Assassin’s Creed Shadowsis finally live, andUbisoft quietly rolled out a day one patchalongside its release that addresses a key concern from Japanese officials regarding in-game temples and shrines. Those worries stemmed from Japanese politician Hiroyuki Kada who expressed concerns before the game’s launch after preview footage showed a player crashing through a local shrine. After this patch, players can no longer cause destruction in these sacred spaces.
The day before the game’s release, Kada reiterated his concerns at a government conference meeting, hoping to draw the attention of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. According to a translation fromIGN, Kada stated:
“I fear that allowing players to attack and destroy real-world locations in the game without permission could encourage similar behavior in real life. Shrine officials and local residents are also worried about this. Of course, freedom of expression must be respected, but acts that demean local cultures should be avoided.”
In response, Prime Minister Ishiba emphasized the importance of preserving the culture these shrines represent and stated, “Defacing a shrine is out of the question — it is an insult to the nation itself.[…]Respecting the culture and religion of a country is fundamental.” With the day one patch,tables and racks in temples and shrines are now indestructible inAssassin’s Creed Shadows.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Has Already Fixed The Issue
Being Proactive, Not Reactive
Naturally, theJapanese government was concerned that depicting shrines and temples being harmed in the game could encourage “copycat” behavior in real life. This is particularly relevant given Japan’s recent surge in tourism following the pandemic. With an increase in international visitors, which could bespurred further byAssassin’s Creed Shadows, there has been a noticeable increase in vandalism, especially at culturally significant sites. The government worries that exposure from a popular video game could add fuel to the fire and make shrines and temples even more vulnerable to potential damage or disrespect.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Already Beat Valhalla’s Peak Player Count On Its First Day, And It Could Keep Going
Shortly after launch, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has already beaten Valhalla’s peak player count on Steam, and might be on track to peak even higher.
Thankfully, Ubisoft took concerns from Japanese officials seriously andquickly issued a patch before any issues caused by players could arise. The patch rolled out alongside the game’s official launch, ensuring that players won’t experience a version of the game without this fix. This proactive approach aims to prevent any potential influence on real-world behavior in Japan, hopefully stopping anyone from getting similar ideas in real life.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Is Already Working To Fix Issues
It’s reassuring to see Ubisoft responding swiftly to concerns aboutAssassin’s Creed Shadows, especially regarding this particular issue that could have sparked significant drama around the game.The game has faced a few challenges on its road to release, such as controversy over the historical accuracy of artwork in the collector’s art book and some insensitive designs on merchandise. Yet, Ubisoft has consistently been proactive in addressing these issues as they arise,even working to prevent harassment towards its developers. It’s clear that the studio is committed to makingAssassin’s Creed Shadowsthe best game it can be, ensuring that both the gameplay and the cultural sensitivities are handled with care.
