The creators of “Assassin’s Creed” defended their “creative liberties” on Tuesday after nearly 100,000 people signed a petition in Japan protesting the inclusion of a new black samurai character.
Ubisoft’s upcoming game, “Assassin’s Creed Shadows,” is set to release in November and is the latest installment in a franchise known for exploring various historical periods around the globe.
In “Shadows,” players can take on the roles of two heroes: Naoe, a female assassin, and Yasuke, a black samurai based on a 16th-century figure who was brought to Japan by Portuguese slave traders.
On June 19, critics in Japan started a petition against the portrayal of Yasuke, calling it a “serious lack of historical accuracy and cultural respect.” The petition, which has gathered around 95,000 signatures, argues that Ubisoft’s depiction contains factual errors and disrespects Japanese culture and history.
While acknowledging Yasuke’s historical existence, the petition claims he never held the samurai title and demands that Ubisoft stop the game’s release to show greater respect for Japanese traditions.
In response, Ubisoft released a statement on Tuesday addressing the concerns of their “esteemed Japanese community.” The company explained their use of “creative liberties and historical inspirations” in developing the game.
“Our intention has never been to present any of our Assassin’s Creed games, including Assassin’s Creed Shadows, as factual representations of history or historical characters,” Ubisoft stated. They noted their collaboration with consultants, historians, researchers, and their internal team at Ubisoft Japan to inform their creative choices.
Ubisoft acknowledged that despite their efforts, some promotional materials caused concern within the Japanese community, for which they apologized.
Samurai expert Julien Peltier mentioned that Yasuke is a figure shrouded in mystery, making him a subject of many fantasies. In their statement, Ubisoft acknowledged that depicting Yasuke as a samurai is a matter of debate.
The “Assassin’s Creed” series has previously explored settings such as ancient Egypt, the Crusades, revolutionary France, and the Viking era, blending history with creative storytelling.
