Japan officials 'takes action' over Assassin's Creed Shadows

Since the announcement that Assassin's Creed Shadows will take place in feudal Japan, the game has been subjected to a steady stream of cultural "controversy." Because Yasuke is based on an actual historical individual, there was faux outrage about his inclusion. A viral video from earlier this month has drawn the attention of Japanese shrine officials (great spot, Automaton), bringing Assassin's Creed Shadows back into the spotlight as the game nears its tardy release date of March 20. 

According to reports, representatives of Hyogo Prefecture's Itate Hyozu Shrine stated that they are taking "appropriate action" in response to the shrine's appearance in Assassin's Creed Shadows. The Itate Hyozu Shrine said in a statement that they were not approached by Ubisoft about the shrine's inclusion in Shadows and that they would have declined if Ubisoft had requested their consent.

Yasuke enters the sacred site and destroys the altar and other sections of the chamber in the controversial video, which can be seen above. Although, the player isn't told directly to ruin the shine, some people have become enraged at the prospect. For those responsible for maintaining its modern counterpart, the demolition of a revered holy place isn't the most pleasant thing to see, but it's a leap to say that a video game area with destructible parts is an act of egregious disrespect.

Watch the video here:

Wake up, Ubisoft “defender,” and hear our voice! What kind of Assassin’s Creed game destroys an actual religious site? Japanese culture is consumed but receives no respect. Here is a perfect example. pic.twitter.com/UsfWMgy53n

— Shohei Kondo (@shoheikondo) January 31, 2025

Religious topics were major focus of Assassin's Creed

No Assassin's Creed Shadows advertising material depicts the destruction of holy sites, and you are not obliged to destroy the shine to advance in the game. As historical fiction, the Assassin's Creed series has always presented actual individuals and events in a fictitious fashion. 

Religious topics were a major focus of the series throughout the Ezio Auditore era, particularly about the Catholic Church. In Assassin's Creed 2, Ezio nearly kills Pope Alexander VI by holding him at bladepoint. Assassin's Creed has always taken an irreverent stance toward religion, which is essential to a large portion of the storyline of the franchise.