InAssassin’s Creed Shadows, players have a lot of freedom to interact with the world. That’s nothing new to the series, but sometimes that freedom is too unrestricted and needs to be balanced with respect for real-world cultures.Once concerns were raised about the potential for an aspect of the game to be seen as disrespectful,Ubisoft quickly responded in its day-one patch that made a small but important change.
While this change might disappoint some players, it shows that Ubisoft cares more about cultural respect than adding extra features to the game. This change doesn’t impact the fun ofShadows, but it shows that Ubisoft is committed to celebrating the cultures it depicts in its games.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Removed Destruction At Shrines
Destroying Objects At Shrines Was Insensitive
Prior to its day-one patch,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsplayers were given too much freedom for their own good. While the ability to interact and destroy objects in shrines fit the game’s overall theme of freedom and interacting with the environment, it also raised concerns. According toEurogamer, Japanese politician Hiroyuki Kada pointed out thatbeing able to destroy items in shrines freely might encourage players to disrespect real-world sacred sites. Ubisoft has responded via the day-one patch, removing the ability to destroy most objects in shrines.
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While players can still destroy some minor objects, more important items have been locked and are indestructible. This change is a positive step toward showing respect towards sacred sites and cultural sensitivity. Though it might disappoint some who enjoyed the freedom to destroy everything, a notable mechanic throughoutShadows' open world,this change shows that Ubisoft values cultural respect more than keeping every gameplay facet.
Beyond destroying items, there’s still plenty to do inAssassin’s Creed Shadows. Not only can playerschoose between the two protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, withplenty of different choices to makethroughout their two stories, but players can alsotake the time to pet some puppies. Destructible environments in games are usually great, and removing the feature from certain locations doesn’t really impact the player experience.
Cultural Respect Is More Important Than Game Physics
Ubisoft Sent The Right Message With Their Patch
The controversy over the destructible shrine feature inAssassin’s Creed Shadowshighlights the balance between fun gameplay and respecting real-world cultures. While the game generally allows players to destroy objects freely, Ubisoft decided that shrines should not be included in that list.
Despite a handful of controversies surrounding the game prior to launch,Shadowshas been well-received.
Shrines are not just part of the game’s world. They represent real religious and cultural values. Ubisoft’s decision to change the game shows that respecting these spaces is more important than adding features that might encourage disrespect. Ubisoft is sending a message that cultures and religious sites should be treated with care, even when depicted in a video game.
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Though some may argue that destroying objects was a fun part of the game, it’s important to consider the impact such features can have in the real world. Ubisoft’s decision reflects a growing awareness of games' influence on players' attitudes and actions. It’s a step toward making the gaming world more responsible and thoughtful.
In the end, players can still enjoyAssassin’s Creed Shadowswithout the destruction of shrines, and the message is clear: respecting real-world cultures and beliefs is more important than offering every possible gameplay feature. This change is a positive move for both the game and its community.
Source:Eurogamer
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Set during Japan’s Sengoku period, two distinct protagonists—Naoe, a shinobi, and Yasuke, a historical African samurai—must navigate political intrigue and violent clashes between the Assassins and Templars. Players can switch between stealthy, shadow-based gameplay with Naoe and Yasuke’s direct combat approach, exploring the duality of their missions in a beautifully rendered open world.
