Fans were left sceptical after revealing that one of the main protagonists was shown to be a black samurai; why is that?
On 15 May 2024, Ubisoft unveiled Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, the latest instalment set in feudal Japan.
Gamers have eagerly hoped for a Japanese setting in the franchise for the past decade. The incredible success of Ghost of Tsushima, developed by SuckerPunch, has set the bar extremely high, exceeding all expectations.
When the trailer was released, retelling feudal Japan, the age of the Samurai, there were complaints about the lack of representation of a Japanese samurai, but rather a black man instead.
A viral TikTok by a content creator named Kaida, explained that instead of using a Japanese man in a game based in Japan like they did in the other Assassin’s Creed games, they demoted this concept and used Yasuke, “because he is black and did this for brownie points.”
According to Forbes, Japanese fans make up most of the margins who are puzzled by Yasuke featuring in this game.
Assassin’s Creed is known for its historical accuracy, with consistent attention to detail regarding the time period and culture.
Ubisoft stated that Yasuke is the first protagonist in the series, based on an actual historical figure who was enslaved by the Portuguese and arrived in Japan.
His remarkable strength and size caught the attention of Oda Nobunaga, one of the most important feudal lords in Japanese history and was portrayed as a ferocious samurai who forged an entire nation.
The developers noted in a post that they chose to include Yasuke because there is still much speculation and mystery surrounding the real-life inspiration. This allowed them to develop his character creatively.
However, some historians argue that Yasuke was a retainer trained in samurai class practice. His story mainly comes from the Shincho Koki and a few accounts from foreign missionaries, none of which confirm his samurai status.
While he served Oda Nobunaga as a weapon bearer and received a wakizashi from the Daimyo, there is no clear evidence that he was officially made a samurai.
Changing this aspect in the new game seems odd and has drawn criticism from Japanese fans, who point out the inconsistency with the previous Assassin’s Creed games.
On the other hand, the other main protagonist, Naoe, is a female shinobi who is the fictional daughter of the legendary historical ninja Fujibayashi Nagato.
Growing up in Iga, an isolated region of Japan, she was surrounded by the ways of Ninjitsu, which is known for its ancient traditions and stealthy techniques.
It’s like stepping into the world of old-school assassins, reminiscent of what fans loved most about the classic Assassin’s Creed games.
However, there have been rumours and hints from Ubisoft that both protagonists will have the opportunity to pursue LGBTQ relationships as main characters.
Romantically, they will be able to attract and be attracted to different types of people, with options “for a multitude of relationships.”
This has angered many critics who have classified the game as “woke”, with Daily Wire host Michael Knowles criticising the potential options for LGBTQ relationships.
He expressed to his almost 2 million YouTube subscribers that he supported Yasuke as a character until Ubisoft “made him gay.”
There were also comments made by one critic who said: “Ah yes, a gay African man in ancient Japan, that makes a lot of sense.”
The trailer on YouTube has already gathered 7.7 million views yet has received 275,000 likes and 658,000 dislikes, making it the most disliked trailer in the series’ history.
Assassins Creed shadows will be released on November 15, 2024, with a mixture of feelings about whether this will be the saviour of the franchise after its recent predecessor, Mirage, failing otherwise.
