“Defacing a shrine is out of the question”: Ubisoft Shadow Drops Assassin’s Creed Shadows Patch After Japan Takes Insult

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Yesterday, on March 19, 2025, Assassin’s Creed Shadows officially launched, a moment eagerly awaited by many gamers worldwide. However, some Japanese political figures have expressed displeasure over the game’s portrayal of players causing disrespect to sacred shrines.

As a gamer, I recently stumbled upon some troubling aspects in Assassin’s Creed Shadows during my gameplay. These issues didn’t sit well with me, and it seems like they didn’t sit well with the Japanese community either. In response to our concerns, the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shigeru Ishiba, addressed these matters during an official meeting. It appears that Ubisoft had already apologized for some marketing tactics and in-game elements that upset us, but it seems that the historical inaccuracies run deeper than initially assumed.

In the context of their discussion about the portrayal of Feudal Japan in the game, members of the Japanese community prompted an apology from Ubisoft’s development team. This apology was conveyed through X.

Although we’ve consistently tried, we understand that certain aspects of our promotions have raised worries among the Japanese community. For this, we offer a heartfelt apology.

Today, IGN is reporting that both the promotional materials and in-game aspects of the game have sparked controversy within the Japanese community, being perceived as offensive or disrespectful.

Japanese Prime Minister insulted by Shrines being vandalized in Assasin’s Creed Shadows

Yesterday, during a session in the Japanese House of Councillors, Hiroyuki Kada, a politician, asked the current Prime Minister of Japan, Shigeru Ishiba, about instances of vandalism at certain shrines depicted within the video game Assassin’s Creed Shadows. In response to this query, Prime Minister Ishiba addressed the matter.

Refusing to desecrate a sacred site is non-negotiable; such an act is deeply offensive to the nation as a whole. Before our Self-Defense Forces were sent to Samawah, Iraq, we took great care to teach them about Islamic traditions. It’s crucial to appreciate and understand the culture and religion of a country, and it’s essential that we convey our commitment to not tolerate actions that disregard these values.

In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, a concern has been raised about the game mechanic that allows players to demolish tables and racks within sanctuaries like Shrines and Temples. This brings up questions about whether such destructive play might encourage similar actions in real-life situations.

Kada points out that the characters in Assassin’s Creed Shadow’s ability to disrespect Shrines raises concerns among Shrine officials and locals, as it might inspire similar actions in reality. Although freedom of gameplay expression is important, Kada argues that behaviors that dishonor local cultures should not be included within the game.

Ubisoft confirms a day-one patch to make tables and racks in Shrines indestructible

As an eager fan, I’m thrilled to share that I’ve just learned about a day-1 update that Ubisoft has rolled out! According to the reliable sources at IGN, here’s a rundown of what this update includes:

[Insert patch notes]

  • Players no longer getting stuck inside movable objects after dodging forward and interacting with them in kofuns
  • Fix for procedural weapons being removed incorrectly when selling items
  • Adjustments to prevent players from going out of bounds when proning against objects
  • Improved horse navigation, reducing issues with turning and blocked paths
  • Lighting adjustments for cave, kofun, and architectural entrances/exits
  • Fixes for cloth clipping on Yasuke’s outfits (while riding) and Naoe’s outfits (while crouching)
  • Citizens without weapons no longer bleed when attacked, reducing unintended blood spill in temples/shrines
  • Tables and racks in temples/shrines are now indestructible (Some objects like drums or bowls can still be broken as they are generic ones present everywhere in the world) (Tables are still dynamic objects, so players can still move/push them).

Two significant alterations deserve mention:

a) The tables and racks inside Shrines and Temples are now indestructible.

b) Unarmed citizens will no longer bleed when attacked in Shrines or Temples, reducing bloodshed.

Although it might not entirely resolve the concerns brought forth by Japanese politicians and residents, Ubisoft’s action is moving in the appropriate path.

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2025-03-20 18:08