Ubisoft’s trouble in Japan won’t leave because of Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows seems to have gotten the attention of Japan’s prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba. Since the events of Shadows take place in Sengoku, Japan, during the feudal rule, a prominent but small group of gamers are upset about two things. First, Assassin’s Creed Shadows features Yasuke, the first Black samurai’s actual historical figure, and second, a teaser for the game implied that players could destroy hallowed shrines.
“Works of fiction based on real historical events and figures”, Ubisoft told fans that the series is not meant to be 100% realistic. Whoever got an action RPG instead of a documentary must have been looking for a documentary because, in the second game, you battle the pope in the Vatican.
According to IGN (in collaboration with IGN Japan), several Japanese government officials have expressed concerns about the game to Prime Minister Ishiba. “I am concerned that allowing players to have the right to attack and destroy actual locations in the game would promote the same habit in real life,” says Hiroyuki Kada, a member of Japan’s House of Councillors. This bothers both local authorities and residents.
Sure, people should be able to say what they want, but it doesn’t give them carte blanche to denigrate indigenous cultures. This brings back the long-debated and investigated worry that violent video games like GTA V and Mortal Kombat can influence gamers to act violently in real life.
The government leader says, “How to treat this legally is something that we need to inquire of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs”.
Lastly, He also mentioned, “It is against the laws of the nation to vandalize a sacred site. We made sure the Self-Defense Forces studied Islamic etiquette before sending them to Samawah, Iraq. We must remember that every nation has its own religious and cultural practices, and we must let others know that we will not tolerate individuals who do not respect these things”.
