Ubisoft has unveiled the official world premiere trailer for "Assassin's Creed: Shadows," set to release later this year. This time, they're diving into an open-world samurai adventure set in Japan, drawing inspiration from the s…
Ubisoft has unveiled the official world premiere trailer for "Assassin's Creed: Shadows," set to release later this year. This time, they're diving into an open-world samurai adventure set in Japan, drawing inspiration from the success of "Ghost of Tsushima." The protagonist is Yasuke, a historical figure whose story is rarely told in Western media.
This choice of character, while fascinating, raises eyebrows considering Ubisoft’s motivations. Critics previously blasted "Ghost of Tsushima" for being developed by non-Japanese creators, yet similar scrutiny is absent here, likely due to Yasuke being a Black samurai. This inconsistency in the gaming community's reaction is striking.
There are concerns about historical accuracy, with some leaks suggesting Yasuke’s storyline might be heavily dramatized for the game, diverging from the records that suggest he was more likely a retainer than a samurai. Ubisoft's emphasis on diversity and representation is clear, but it seems more driven by contemporary social expectations than historical fidelity.
Interestingly, while "Ghost of Tsushima" faced backlash for its development team, "Assassin's Creed: Shadows" is getting praised despite its Western roots. Ubisoft seems to be pushing for diversity by making Yasuke the lead, likely anticipating less criticism and more praise for representation.
Moreover, there's a broader issue with how AAA games are developed today, with high development costs and the pressure to appeal to modern social trends often leading to historical liberties being taken. Ubisoft's decision to make Yasuke a samurai who fell into Japan via a slave ship raid rather than the likely historical missionary route is one such example. It appears that the developers are prioritizing a narrative that fits contemporary sensibilities over strict historical accuracy.
I'm curious to see how "Assassin's Creed: Shadows" will be received and whether it will face the same level of scrutiny as other games. The game ind..
