Assassin’s Creed Shadows is probably one of the most crucified games ever and it hasn’t even come out! Why did Ubisoft do this?

Would you be surprised to hear that Ubisoft is under fire once again for the historical inaccuracies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows? This is a topic that we’ve already discussed at length back when the game was first revealed. But with the March 20, 2025 release date coming up soon, there are new problems.

The whole situation is a can of worms at this point. | Image Credit: Ubisoft

The game just had its last Early Preview build go out to content creators and reviewers. And it doesn’t look pretty. From having a terrible grasp of seasons to having armor, clothing, and architecture that is historically not possible, people online have brought up a lot of concerns.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is just getting no love from fans

Is it nitpicking or actually valid? | Image Credit: Ubisoft

Let’s first look at the biggest issue which is one that we’ve already talked about before. Yasuke is one of Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ two protagonists and the devs have presented him as a samurai, but is it true? Yasuke was an African man who served under Oda Nobunaga, but there is no concrete evidence that he was ever granted samurai status.

People online previously pointed out that he was more of a sword-bearer or bodyguard, and his brief time in Japan makes his portrayal as a full-fledged warrior questionable. However, Reddit user u/ParallelPain went to great lengths to find and compile evidence that suggests that he was indeed a samurai alongside the other things suggested as well.

Another issue that people bring up is the presence of Chinese influences in the game’s depiction of Japan. Fans have pointed out that some of the in-game architecture and artistic elements resemble Chinese styles rather than Japanese ones.

This brings us to the newest and perhaps most talked about problem and that is the watermelon and sakura trees. A new screenshot from the Early Preview shows Yasuke near a stall selling watermelons while cherry blossoms bloom in the background. According to people online, this scene is an agricultural impossibility because watermelons did not reach Japan until the Edo period (1603-1868), decades after the game’s 1579 setting.

On top of this, cherry blossoms bloom in spring, while watermelons are a summer fruit. So how are they both in the same scene? The community has used these factors as proof that Ubisoft is more interested in creating a visually appealing but inaccurate world rather than respecting historical facts.

Ubisoft is the one that claimed to be accurate in the first place

The devs can’t back pedal on their words now. | Image Credit: Ubisoft

There is also a screenshot of a female sumo wrestler character from the Early Preview which has gotten some backlash. In the picture, the game shows her having an active ability called Rikishi which literally translates to “strong man.” There’s also evidence that suggests the Sengoku period was full of famines and food shortages. So how would there be a female sumo wrestler of that size?

But why does any of this matter when Assassin’s Creed has never been about historical accuracy in the first place? This is the main question that people have asked in response to the many complaints. The answer is simple. The developers themselves have mentioned that they “maintained historical fidelity” and that “keeping it authentic” was their main goal. (Via Famitsu/Reddit)

So yeah, fans are rightfully pissed and there is nothing Ubisoft can do. Back in July 2024, the company released a statement attempting to address concerns. In it, the company acknowledged the criticisms from Japanese players and apologized for certain mistakes, such as the inclusion of Chinese subtitles in promotional materials. But they also defended their portrayal of Yasuke, arguing that his role as a samurai is open to interpretation.

Ubisoft also reiterated that Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a work of historical fiction rather than a documentary. Well, you shouldn’t have promised “historical fidelity” then. The company is contradicting itself by marketing the game as historically accurate while simultaneously dismissing concerns over inaccuracies.