Ubisoft has released a day-one patch for Assassin's Creed Shadows with the censorship scissors, and not just in the Japanese version of the game. Apparently, the virtual bloodshed and the interactive environment in shrines was too much for some players (and politicians) was a thorn in the side. That's why there are now fewer red splashes and indestructible furniture.
A patch against the bloodshed
According to Ubisoft, the patch ensures that tables and shelves in shrines can no longer be destroyed. Some disorder is still possible, but nothing more. This is apparently the publisher's response to the heated debates that followed the preview of Assassin's Creed Shadows came up. Non-NPCs also no longer show bloodshed and attacking unarmed characters results in desynchronization - a kind of punishment to avoid glorifying murder.
The changes have not only caused discussion in the gaming community. Even the Japanese Prime Minister previously commented on this. In his opinion, defacing a shrine in real life is "unthinkable", while other politicians at least recognize freedom of expression within a game. But the debate continues: the censorship of Assassin's Creed Shadows comes almost a year after an EA manager expressed anger that Stellar Blade got away with things that Dead Space-remake were not accepted. A pattern seems to be emerging.
Special treatment for Japan?
Interestingly, the patch is not only limited to Japan. The blood reduction for unarmed NPCs has also been implemented in the global version. This raises the question of whether Ubisoft is aiming for general sensitization or simply wants to prevent possible controversies worldwide. The existing censorship for the Japanese market is not an isolated case. The severing of heads and limbs is also not possible there. Our detailed article sheds light on the background to this: Assassin's Creed Shadows: The game is censored in this country of all places.
With this patch, Ubisoft is obviously trying to master a balancing act between cultural sensitivity and freedom of play. However, the question remains: is it really necessary to make such compromises in a historical action game? Or does this take away a piece of the title's identity? The debate is far from over.
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