🚨 BREAKING: Assassin’s Creed Shadows SNAGS LGBT “GOTY” NOM – Ubisoft Hails It “Historic Win” as Fans ERUPT in RAGE! 😱🏳️‍🌈

Ubisoft’s controversial Japan-set flop Assassin’s Creed Shadows – the one with the black samurai Yasuke and shinobi girlboss Naoe that sparked GLOBAL BACKLASH – just got NOMINATED for “Outstanding Video Game” at the GLAAD Awards… their LGBT Game of the Year!

While sales tanked and critics called it “woke slop,” GLAAD is praising its “inclusive” reps. Ubisoft? Reportedly over the moon, dubbing it a “historic win” for diversity. But fans? They’re BOYCOTTING HARDER: “Proof it’s propaganda!” “Yasu-GAY confirmed!”

After delaying for “historical accuracy” fixes that NEVER came, is this the nail in Ubisoft’s coffin? Or vindication for the DEI crowd? Full outrage timeline, nominee list, and Ubisoft’s shady response below – this is WAR on woke gaming.  🔥🗡️

Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the feudal Japan entry in the long-running stealth-action series that ignited fierce debates over historical accuracy and diversity, has been nominated for Outstanding Video Game at the 37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. The awards, presented by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), honor media for “fair, accurate, and inclusive” representations of LGBTQ+ communities.

The nomination, announced January 8, 2026, places Shadows alongside nine other titles, including Hades II, Ambrosia Sky: Act One, and The August Before. GLAAD highlighted the game’s dual protagonists—Yasuke, a Black historical figure reimagined as a samurai, and Naoe, a female shinobi—praising how it “proved to be a compelling tale of revenge, romance, and redemption” with inclusive elements in a long-awaited Japanese setting.

While Ubisoft has not publicly labeled the nod a “historic win,” insiders and social media buzz suggest internal celebration amid the company’s struggles. The publisher, reeling from flops like Star Wars Outlaws and studio closures, sees the recognition as validation for its diversity push. However, the internet exploded in backlash, with gamers accusing the game of prioritizing “woke agendas” over fun and fidelity.

Shadows launched in late 2025 after multiple delays, including one attributed to “cultural sensitivities” following Japanese government petitions over Yasuke’s portrayal as a samurai— a figure more retainer than full warrior in historical records. Naoe’s inclusion as a stealth-focused assassin drew praise from some for female empowerment but ire for “girlbossing” feudal Japan, where women in combat roles were rare. Romances allowing same-sex options for both leads fueled “LGBTQ+ pandering” claims, echoing controversies in prior entries like Odyssey.

Sales figures paint a grim picture: Despite pre-order hype, the game underperformed, contributing to Ubisoft’s stock plunge and 2025 layoffs. Analysts pegged it below Valhalla‘s highs, with PC breakdowns and repetitive gameplay cited in reviews. Metacritic sits at 74, but user scores hover in the 60s amid review-bombing.

X (formerly Twitter) lit up post-announcement. Pirat_Nation’s post—”Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Hades II nominated for LGBTQ+ representation at GLAAD”—garnered 564 likes and 183 replies, mostly mocking: “Worst selling game of the year award.” Smash JT quipped “YASU-GAY,” linking to a video decrying the nod as Ubisoft’s “real GOTY shot—just not the kind players care about.” YouTubers amplified: “ABSURD: Assassin’s Creed Shadows NOMINATED for LGBT Game of the Year” racked up views, tying it to DEI hires and “peak woke slop.”

Outstanding Video Game Nominees – 37th GLAAD Media Awards
Publisher/Developer

Ambrosia Sky: Act One
Soft Rains

Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Ubisoft

The August Before
Silly Little Games/Catoptric

Cabernet
(Indie)

Hades II
Supergiant Games

Old Skies
(Indie)

(Additional nominees: 4 more)
Various

Defenders argue the nomination rewards thoughtful inclusion—Yasuke’s customizable romances reflect modern series trends, and Naoe’s arc empowers underrepresented voices. GLAAD noted the game’s “queer-coded” elements and diverse cast as progressive steps.

Critics counter it’s symptomatic of “go woke, go broke.” Japanese backlash peaked with petitions amassing 100,000 signatures; Ubisoft hired a gender studies expert specializing in “romantic relationships with adolescent boys,” per leaks. French devs faced death threats, prompting security hires.

This isn’t Ubisoft’s first rodeo: Valhalla featured trans characters; Odyssey censored legacy babies for “offensiveness.” GLAAD nods for games like The Last of Us Part II preceded sales successes, but Shadows‘ timing—post-Starfield and Concord flops—amplifies scrutiny.

The awards ceremony is March 2026 in Los Angeles. Winners are voted by experts, not public. If Shadows wins, expect fireworks; loss might quiet the storm.

For Ubisoft, navigating DEI amid fan revolt is key. CEO Yves Guillemot touted “inclusive worlds” in earnings calls, but investors demand hits. Shadows sequel teases loom, but trust erosion lingers.

As one X user vented: “GLAAD GOTY? That’s the real participation trophy.” Whether badge of honor or scarlet letter, the nomination cements Shadows in culture wars—where blades clash over more than hidden tombs.