Yasuke’s role in Assassin’s Creed Shadows has fans upset, with many claiming Ubisoft misrepresents the historical figure.

The controversy surrounding AC Shadows has yet to settle, particularly especially over its choice of Yasuke. Despite multiple delays, the game is now scheduled for release on March 20. While these delays have improved aspects of the gameplay, one thing remains unchanged: the historically inaccurate protagonist.

The game has been surrounded by controversy since its announcement. | Image Credit: Ubisoft

The anger from fans, especially about Yasuke being depicted as some sort of legendary samurai, is mostly understandable. Even historian Yuichi Goza, an expert in medieval Japanese history, has weighed in on the controversy, and his insights are not looking good for Ubisoft.

From historical figure to video game protagonist in AC Shadows

The historical accuracy doesn’t match the game’s material. | Image Source: Ubisoft

Yasuke, a man of African descent who arrived in Japan in the late 1500s, served under the powerful warlord Oda Nobunaga. While this is historically accurate, in an interview with JapanForward, Goza emphasizes that portraying him as a samurai is purely speculative.

The historical evidence suggests that he served as a bodyguard and entertainer rather than a traditional warrior. Goza explains that while some records suggest Nobunaga gave Yasuke a sword and a residence, such gestures did not necessarily elevate him to samurai status.

Even if he was treated as a samurai (a big ‘if’), Goza stresses that this role may have been more about showcasing Nobunaga’s own power, using a rare African background man as a spectacle. So, his presence might be more about attracting attention rather than being a battle-hardened warrior.

To put it bluntly, Yasuke may have been seen as something of a spectacle, since having such dark skin was rare.

Goza firmly states that Yasuke should not be portrayed as a “legendary samurai” who single-handedly defeats foes in battle, as even if he participated in combat at the time, he was more likely a combatant rather than a commander.

While Ubisoft is no stranger to blending fiction with historical facts in their Assassin’s Creed series, Goza added this action is a step too far as it could be seen as diminishing Japan’s samurai culture by inaccurately elevating one’s status.

Will Ubisoft address the concerns?

The anticipation of the game’s release is high, not all for good reasons. | Image Credit: Ubisoft.

With AC Shadows now set to release on March 20, the question remains: Will the controversy surrounding Yasuke be addressed, or will the team stand by its portrayal despite the backlash?

Given that Yasuke’s role is still portrayed as a samurai, which is central to the game’s narrative, it seems unlikely the character has been significantly altered before release, even after multiple delays.

Now the only thing that remains to be seen is whether Ubisoft refined the narrative to better align with the character’s historical accuracy or not. This long-running backlash has made it clear that fans’ concerns are not baseless.

While fans can go overboard, the backlash is rooted in a genuine concern for how Assassin’s Creed Shadows handles the portrayal of Japan’s samurai culture. If the studio fails to address these concerns, it risks alienating its audience and disrespecting the culture it aims to portray.

In the end, as the game heads toward its release, it will be interesting to see if the game’s narrative was altered to better reflect historical accuracy or if it sticks with its current direction, continuing to stir controversy even after its release.