Ubisoft’s response was that Assassin’s Creed Shadows is historical fiction, not a factual account—and that Yasuke’s portrayal as a samurai is debated. The company said it consulted historians and cultural experts, but also made clear that advisers did not control the game’s creative decisions. Its statement explains Ubisoft’s intent; it does not settle the historical questions surrounding Yasuke or independently verify every detail in the game.
What Ubisoft said in its response
On July 23, 2024, Ubisoft published an update addressed to the Japanese community. It acknowledged positive reactions as well as criticism, including concerns from Japanese players, and apologized for promotional materials that had caused concern. Ubisoft also noted that footage shown at the time came from a game still in development.
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Assassin’s Creed Shadows - Limited Edition (Amazon Exclusive), PlayStation 5 | $61.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Assassin's Creed Shadows [PlayStation 5] | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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The development team described the series’ relationship to history this way: “Our intention has never been to present any of our Assassin’s Creed games, including Assassin’s Creed Shadows, as factual representations of history, or historical characters.” The statement said the team had sought an immersive and respectful depiction and had worked with external consultants, historians, researchers, and Ubisoft Japan.
Ubisoft also asked people not to direct criticism at its collaborators. The company said creative decisions belonged to the game team, distinguishing consultation from control over the finished portrayal.
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- Only at Amazon Limited Edition Content includes the base game and Sekiryu Character Pack
- Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.
- Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles.
- Make information your weapon as you explore the world, and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions.
- Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s layout, decorations, and accessories.
What the dispute about Yasuke does—and does not—establish
Ubisoft’s July statement said: “While Yasuke is depicted as a samurai in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, we acknowledge that this is a matter of debate and discussion.” That is Ubisoft acknowledging controversy, not resolving it. The available statements and interviews do not establish a definitive historical consensus about Yasuke’s formal status.
It helps to separate the historical person from the game’s protagonist. Ubisoft’s May 15, 2024 announcement presents Yasuke as a real historical figure and says questions remain about his story, giving the writers room for creative choices. The game’s version is therefore a fictionalized character built around a historical figure, not evidence that every element of his role is documented fact.
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- Experience an epic, historical action adventure in feudal Japan and become a deadly Shinobi assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open game world in chaotic times
- Sneak as a Naoe to not be discovered, use your agility to confuse your opponents and stretch down your opponents with deadly precision and power as a Yasuke
- Use information as weapons and build your own spy network to have eyes and ears everywhere and find your targets easier and recruit new allies on the go with unique skills to help you with your missions
- Create a fully customizable hideaway for your growing Shinobi league, where you train recruits, craft new equipment and interact with important characters; set the room layout, decoration and accessories yourself
How Ubisoft’s messaging developed
| Date and source | What was said | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2024 — Ubisoft announcement | Ubisoft said the game was set in 16th-century Japan, featured Naoe and Yasuke, and drew on historical documentation and a network of historians, professors, and cultural consultants. It described Yasuke as African in origin, brought to Japan enslaved by the Portuguese, and serving under Oda Nobunaga, while noting open questions about his story. Ubisoft’s announcement | These are Ubisoft’s descriptions of its research and design, not an independent historical audit. |
| May 15, 2024 — Charles Benoit in Xbox Wire | The game director emphasized real historical figures and events, saying players would be “learning about this fantastic time period.” Xbox Wire interview | This promotional emphasis on learning about history preceded Ubisoft’s later explicit clarification that the series is fiction. |
| July 23, 2024 — Ubisoft statement | Ubisoft apologized for concerns caused by promotional materials, described the games as fiction inspired by history, and acknowledged debate over Yasuke’s portrayal as a samurai. Ubisoft’s statement | This is the company’s response and statement of intent; it does not settle the historical debate. |
| March 2025 — Simon Lemay-Comtois in GamesRadar+ | The associate game director said, “It’s not a documentary. We really wanted you to live this history,” and discussed the different perspectives and NPC reactions associated with the two protagonists. GamesRadar+ interview | A later developer description of the game’s experiential and fictional approach. |
| June 17, 2025 — Brooke Davies Ruatta in TheSixthAxis | The associate narrative director said the sparse historical record left narrative room, and described historians and cultural experts informing the work. She also said historical sources informed weapons and techniques that the team adjusted for cinematic combat. The interview describes an in-game “Cultural Discovery” codex with entries on Azuchi-Momoyama history, art, and culture. TheSixthAxis interview | These are attributed developer comments about process and features, not an independent assessment of accuracy. |
Did historians and Japanese consultants work on the game?
Ubisoft said it consulted historians, researchers, external cultural consultants, and Ubisoft Japan. Its announcement also described consultation with historians, professors, and cultural consultants. Those statements support the claim that advisers contributed, but they do not mean advisers approved every creative choice or had final authority.
The Associated Press reported in 2025 that Dartmouth associate professor Sachi Schmidt-Hori, a narrative consultant, faced online harassment after the promotional trailer. AP described her role as research on historical customs and script review, not character creation. Ubisoft declined an interview with AP but issued a statement describing historical research and consultation while reiterating that the games are fiction and take artistic liberties. Associated Press report
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Why did Ubisoft apologize?
Ubisoft apologized for promotional elements that caused concern among Japanese players and others. The statement did not concede that the game was a factual account; instead, it explained that the team intended a respectful, immersive fictional setting, acknowledged the criticism, and clarified that promotional footage was from a work in development. The company also asked audiences to direct criticism toward the creative team rather than individual collaborators.
How to assess claims of historical accuracy
For a historical-fiction game, “accurate” is not one yes-or-no property. A useful way to assess a specific detail is to ask:
- What is documented? Separate established setting or people from details the historical record leaves uncertain.
- Who is making the claim? Distinguish Ubisoft’s description, a developer’s interview comments, and independent reporting.
- What did consultation cover? Advice on customs, research, or script review does not establish that advisers made final creative decisions.
- Where does fiction begin? Characterization, chronology, and events can be filled in or altered to serve the story.
- What serves gameplay? Combat, stealth, narrative, and player perspective can shape how the past is represented.
Ubisoft identifies the setting as late-16th-century Japan, during the country’s unification and the Azuchi-Momoyama era. Its art team characterizes Naoe as an agile, stealth-focused shinobi and Yasuke as a combat-oriented samurai. The company presented the two leads as equally important, with different gameplay styles and perspectives; that design does not by itself answer historical questions about either character.
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