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- Assassin’s Creed Shadows sparked controversy over including Yasuke, the African samurai.
- Developers originally planned the game around Naoe alone but later introduced Yasuke to offer dual perspectives and varied gameplay styles.
- Ubisoft has since downplayed Yasuke in marketing, but early impressions suggest the game remains promising.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows has been the series’ most controversial and ambitious launch, with its Feudal Japan setting that many have dubbed “historically inaccurate.” Moreover, having Yasuke, an African lead protagonist, didn’t help with this case much.
While some have been vocal about disliking Yasuke as the lead protagonist, the original game wasn’t planned around the samurai. In a new interview, Assassin’s Creed Shadows developers revealed that they initially planned Naoe as the sole protagonist and added Yasuke much later.
Why it matters: Assassin’s Creed Shadows would have been a completely different game and likely far less controversial if Naoe had been the sole protagonist.
In an interview with Gamerant, Assassin’s Creed Shadows developers were asked about the game’s initial development phases, to which creative producer Jonathan Dumont responded:
We decided to move into having two different POVs and clear playstyles, and this is the moment Yasuke joined the adventure.
Even from the gameplay footage, Naoe’s character appears much more fleshed out than Yasuke’s, which makes sense, considering the samurai was the second addition rather than the primary focus.
However, his character still looks very interesting, and it would be exciting to play the game with a different POV and playstyle, giving players more freedom.
Following the backlash, Ubisoft has removed Yasuke from the game’s banners in the marketing campaigns. Moreover, earlier reports suggested that Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ $20 million delay was to limit Yasuke’s role in the game and focus more on Naoe.
If anything, the delays worked out in favor of the RPG, as earlier impressions are quite positive, suggesting a solid and successful release.
Do you think Assassin’s Creed Shadows would have been fine with Naoe as the sole playable character, or does it benefit from the dual-protagonist approach? Let us know in the comments below or head towards the official Tech4Gamers Forum for more discussions.
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[News Reporter]
Shaheer is currently pursuing a Business degree while also working as a part-time Content Writer. With his deep passion for both writing and video games, he has seamlessly transitioned into a role as a Journalist. Over the past two years, Shaheer has contributed as a freelancer to various websites and landed positions on acclaimed platforms like Gamerant. Currently, his role at Tech4gamers is as a Features Writer, but he also covers News occasionally. Shaheer’s favorite gaming franchises are Assassin’s Creed and the God of War series.
Get In Touch: shaheer@tech4gamers.com
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