Assassin’s Creed fans have long been begging for a game set in ancient Japan. A monkey’s paw must have curled somewhere because Ubisoft gave the paying customers the right setting but botched the setting’s details. Fans in the West and Japan have noticed many mistakes in the Assassin’s Creed: Shadows trailer and promotional material. Among these errors, Ubisoft blundered basic facts about tatami mats and seasonal plant growth. Let’s see where Ubisoft went wrong.
Yasuke: Samurai or Retainer?
Let’s get the biggest issue out of the way. Most historical sources identify Yasuke as a retainer. Someone who carried their lord’s stuff. Many have called him a samurai, though this was likely just a title with no weight. Creative Director Jonathan Dumont intentionally sought out a foreign-born historical figure to be the protagonist. In an interview with Famitsu that has since been edited, he said they were “first looking for ‘our samurai,’ someone who could be our non-Japanese eyes.”
Ubisoft’s defenders initially argued that Yasuke had a part in the history of Japan and that any criticism was racism. They then defaulted to “Assassin’s Creed was never historically accurate and that demanding accuracy is racist.” For their part, IGN apparently thinks that Japanese people have had enough representation in their own media. Is Ubisoft and its defenders willingly engaging in historical revisionism and false equivalence rhetoric to silence their critics? If a former contractor with Ubisoft is correct, the original draft for this game may have started on a better track.
This isn’t the first time the West has tried to turn a historical footnote into a legendary hero. Netflix received similar criticism for their Yasuke anime series. The show was a mixed bag that was quickly forgotten by an audience tired of studio box-ticking.
Bungling Japanese Architecture
Japanese fans pointed out the odd placement of lanterns and torii gates in the game. They highlighted, among other things, that Ubisoft shows Chinese paper lanterns in Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, and torii gates at village entrances. Torii gates are usually built in areas of spiritual and religious significance, such as near or at temples. Clearly, Ubisoft didn’t glance at Ghost of Tsushima to see how to bring ancient Japan to life.
Japanese viewers have also picked apart the scene introducing Yasuke. Issues include the tatami mats shown, which are square-shaped rather than rectangular. Lord Oda’s aide is also shown at the same level as Oda himself, which would not have happened.
Ubisoft Fails at Kanji and Symbology
If Ubisoft can’t get tatami mats right, there’s no way they’re getting kanji right. Physical statues and cases promoting Assassin’s Creed: Shadows were sent to Japanese streamers, who picked them apart. For example, Yasuke is wearing the Oda Clan crest, but the flag behind him — which has the same color scheme — bears the Toyotomi Clan crest. Also, Ubisoft’s included case showed the same kanji printed twice, with the second one miswritten.
Incorrect details might be easy to explain, but how about copyright infringement? Ubisoft allegedly stole the Japanese Reenactment Group Sekighahara Teppo Corp’s banner symbol for their game. The group is now contemplating a lawsuit.
Ubisoft Can’t Even Get Seasons Right
A recent Assassin’s Creed: Shadows trailer showed nature in full bloom. While beautiful, it also brought the game’s season into question. Sakura trees in bloom, farmers harvesting rice, and baskets full of persimmons. But these three never grow at the same time. Sakura trees bloom in March, farmers harvest rice in August, and persimmons ripen in October.
Ubisoft should have hired an average Japanese person to check the facts. Japanese fans criticizing Ubisoft aren’t experts, they’re just average, everyday people who live in Japan, and a goldfish VTuber.
What do you think of Ubisoft’s attempts to recreate ancient Japan? Do you think these issues are a big deal, or are they no problem at all? Are you going to buy Assassin’s Creed: Shadows? Let us know in the comments below.
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