- Assassin’s Creed Shadows features the black protagonist Yasuke.
- The game has already become controversial for Ubisoft’s decision to focus on the character, with many calling it woke.
- They believe Yasuke was never a samurai, but others have also pointed out this assumption is incorrect.
Ubisoft has confirmed a November release window for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, highlighting the historical figure Yasuke as a major part of the title. Yasuke will be accompanied by Naoe on the exciting journey lying ahead in Feudal Japan.
While these two protagonists look promising, the game has already begun to attract controversies. Many claim that Ubisoft has gone woke due to the inclusion of this black samurai.
Why it matters: Ubisoft didn’t pick the most obvious protagonists for its Japanese entry, but Yasuke is already quite popular due to his depictions in various adaptations.
Ubisoft confirms Naoe is the female lead from Japan, who fills in the role of the nimble and stealthy shinobi. Meanwhile, Yasuke is a samurai who can handle formidable foes through sheer strength.
Following the reveal trailer, various users on social media have begun to question the choice to pick Yasuke specifically. They claim that choosing a Black protagonist is disrespectful to Japanese culture.
Others point out that Yasuke was not a samurai but a retainer for Oda Nobunaga. They explain that this made him a servant to the Feudal Lord, so Ubisoft’s decision to promote his role as a samurai is odd.
Japanese viewers also appear confused about the decision to pick a black protagonist. However, those on the other side argue that Yasuke was a real-life figure. Some have also clarified that it’s not wrong to consider him a samurai.
As more details on Assassin’s Creed Shadows emerge, the discourse will continue, though it is unlikely to impact the game’s performance.
Elsewhere, the game has also been criticized for a supposed active internet connection requirement, so Assassin’s Creed Shadows is shaping up to be this IP’s most divisive entry to date.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows arrives on November 15, later this year. This entry breaks away from Ubisoft’s decade-long tradition of releasing new games on the PS4 and Xbox One, marking an exciting era as the series transitions to a new generation of hardware.
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[News Reporter]
Bawal is an MBBS student by day and a gaming journalist by night. He has been gaming since childhood, growing fond of the creativity and innovation of the industry. His career as a gaming journalist started one year ago, and his journey has allowed him to write reviews, previews, and features for various sites. Bawal has also been cited in reputed websites such as Screenrant, PCGamesN, WCCFTech, GamesRadar, and more.