Ubisoft appears to be making a last-ditch effort to salvage Assassin’s Creed Shadows, now telling players they can skip playing as Yasuke, the game’s controversial Black samurai protagonist, “for any reason.” This phrasing, used by creative director Jonathan Dumont in a recent interview with Screen Rant, has many interpreting it as Ubisoft quietly acknowledging the widespread dissatisfaction with Yasuke’s inclusion and trying to placate frustrated fans.

A screenshot from Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft

In the interview, Dumont assured players they can focus on playing as either protagonist in the game while ignoring the other without missing out on core gameplay.

“I don’t think you’re missing out on things too much,” Dumont said regarding skipping one of the game’s primary protagonists. “I think it’s more on your preference to [say], ‘Okay, I’ll see how the game will adapt a little bit to the character if you choose one over the other.’”

But it was his next line that raised eyebrows.

“If you prefer one character for any reason, you can play quite a bit of the game using one of them.” he said. This seemingly innocuous phrase has drawn significant attention. Given the ongoing backlash surrounding Yasuke’s inclusion, many see it as Ubisoft’s veiled attempt to address the controversy without directly confronting it. For critics, it reads as Ubisoft offering players an easy way to avoid playing as the character whose presence has sparked months of debate.

A screenshot from Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft

Naoe offers a classic Assassin’s Creed experience focused on stealth, reminiscent of early franchise entries and the recent Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Yasuke, on the other hand, embodies the more aggressive, action-heavy combat style seen in Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla. Dumont clarified that while both characters have their own questlines, the bulk of the game can be played with either protagonist.

This announcement comes amid a tidal wave of backlash Ubisoft has faced over Shadows, much of it centered on the inclusion of Yasuke as a main protagonist. Fans have long clamored for an Assassin’s Creed set in feudal Japan, but many expected a traditional Japanese samurai or ninja lead. Ubisoft’s decision to spotlight Yasuke—a historical figure with limited documented influence in Japanese history—was seen as prioritizing modern ideological trends over historical authenticity.

A screenshot from Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft

The controversy surrounding Yasuke’s inclusion isn’t the only issue that has plagued Shadows. Ubisoft has faced repeated backlash over historical inaccuracies and culturally insensitive depictions. One major incident involved the depiction of the Itate Hyozu Jinja shrine, a real Shinto temple still active today. In Shadows, players can enter the shrine and destroy its interior, including smashing the altar. This led to the temple filing a formal request for Ubisoft to remove it from the game, calling the depiction offensive and disrespectful.

Additionally, Ubisoft had to apologize for using the Sekigahara Rifle Corps’ banner without permission in official artwork, and the company faced intense criticism for a collector’s statue featuring a destroyed torii gate, which closely resembled the iconic image of the Hiroshima gate after the atomic bombing. PureArts, the collectible figure maker, removed the statue from sale after widespread backlash.

The game’s repeated delays haven’t helped its image either. Originally scheduled for November 2024, Shadows was pushed to February 2025 and then again to March 20, 2025—a date that marks the 30th anniversary of the Tokyo subway sarin attack, Japan’s deadliest modern domestic tragedy. The decision to release the game on such a significant and somber date was criticized as either ignorant or blatantly disrespectful.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Qlectors Yasuke & Naoe (2024), Pure Arts

Ubisoft’s defensive attitude toward criticism has further alienated fans. When X user NikTek highlighted bugs in the game’s graphics, the official Assassin’s Creed account responded dismissively with, “Note to Self: Make ‘Work in Progress’ appear larger.” This tone-deaf response highlighted the company’s unwillingness to accept constructive feedback, a theme that has persisted throughout the game’s troubled development.

Now, with Dumont’s assurance that players can bypass Yasuke “for any reason,” Ubisoft seems to be tacitly acknowledging the backlash while hoping to mitigate further damage. For a game that Ubisoft claimed would showcase deep cultural respect and historical accuracy, the mounting controversies suggest otherwise.

A screenshot from Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a crucial release for Ubisoft, which has seen its market value plummet in recent years. With investors growing restless and fans becoming increasingly vocal about the game’s missteps, this latest concession might be too little, too late. For many, Ubisoft’s repeated cultural blunders and dismissive attitude have already done irreparable damage to the franchise’s credibility.