Assassin’s Creed Shadows Exec Admits Lying to Fans – Beyond Accepted Truth!

Ubisoft's latest title, Assassin's Creed Shadows, is sparking controversy for its bold approach to rewriting history. In a recent New York Times interview, Marc-Alexis Côté, the Executive Producer of the Assassin's Creed franchise, revealed that the aim with Assassin's Creed Shadows is to go "beyond what is accepted truth." This stance has triggered outrage among gamers, leading to accusations that Ubisoft is once again pushing a "woke" agenda.

Côté explained that Ubisoft's goal is to present a critical view of historical events, challenging established narratives. He stated, "We want people to be passionate about history... but we won’t shy away from defying clichés and pushing beyond what is considered accepted truth.” However, this has led many fans to criticize Assassin’s Creed Shadows as an attempt to distort history, especially with the inclusion of a black samurai protagonist in 16th-century Japan.

The Assassin’s Creed Shadows trailer introduced players to Yasuke, a black samurai, a character that has stirred heated debates. Côté believes Yasuke’s story fits the franchise, but detractors feel that Ubisoft’s portrayal crosses a line, leading to a controversy over woke themes. Game Director Charles Benoit doubled down, telling Xbox Wire that Assassin's Creed Shadows is set in the Sengoku era, showcasing famous historical figures like Oda Nobunaga. Despite promises of historical accuracy, the inclusion of Yasuke in this context has raised skepticism, leading to reactions questioning Ubisoft’s motives.

To add fuel to the fire, Ubisoft reportedly ran to The New York Times to launch a preemptive attack on its player base, mirroring tactics used by other media giants when facing backlash. The article, penned by Zachary Small, labeled gamer criticism as "woke outrage" and claimed developers received death threats during an online harassment campaign, though no evidence was provided.

Ubisoft’s attempt to justify Assassin’s Creed Shadows through such media outlets has only intensified the reaction, with some gamers accusing the company of pandering to woke ideology. The Assassin’s Creed Shadows controversy, including the gameplay and Assassin’s Creed Shadows reaction from players, has overshadowed the game itself. What could have been a groundbreaking new addition to the franchise is now being seen as a misguided attempt to rewrite history.

Reports from industry insiders like Craig Skistimas (Stuttering Craig) suggest that pre-orders for Assassin's Creed Shadows are shockingly low. With less than one preorder per store nationwide at a major retail chain, it's clear that Ubisoft’s push for inclusivity and historical revisionism may be backfiring. Gamers are calling out the inclusion of woke elements, particularly the Assassin’s Creed Shadows black samurai character, as a bridge too far.

What do you make of Ubisoft's decision to go beyond "accepted truth" with Assassin's Creed Shadows? Is this an artistic leap, or is Ubisoft pushing its players away?