It’s March 20, 2025, and Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft’s latest stab at the beloved franchise, has unleashed a firestorm unlike anything the gaming world has seen in years. Set in feudal Japan and featuring dual protagonists—Naoe, a shinobi, and Yasuke, a historical Black samurai—the game promised an epic journey through a meticulously crafted 16th-century landscape. Instead, it’s become a viral sensation for all the wrong reasons, with clips flooding the internet under headlines like “Assassin’s Creed Shadows CRINGE Goes Viral! Ubisoft Made a Gay Humiliation Ritual for Japan!” What started as a bold creative gamble has spiraled into a PR disaster, with fans, critics, and even Japanese officials allegedly up in arms. Is this a case of Ubisoft pushing boundaries too far, or has the outrage been blown out of proportion? Let’s dive into the controversy rocking the gaming world.

The Spark: A “Gay Humiliation Ritual”?

The phrase “gay humiliation ritual” first surfaced in a YouTube video by EndymionYT on March 19, 2025, titled “Assassins Creed Shadows CRINGE Goes Viral! Ubisoft Made a Gay Humiliation Ritual for Japan!” The video, which has racked up over a million views, zeroes in on a leaked scene from Shadows that’s since become the epicenter of the backlash. In it, Yasuke—already a lightning rod due to his race and samurai status—engages in a romantic encounter with a male NPC named Ibuki, described as a non-binary warrior. The dialogue is painfully awkward: Yasuke says, “Your blade cuts deeper than steel, yet your touch heals my soul,” followed by Ibuki’s reply, “Our fates intertwine like cherry blossoms in the wind.” The scene ends with a fade-to-black kiss, accompanied by stilted voice acting and an oddly timed musical swell.

The internet erupted. X users dubbed it a “gay humiliation ritual,” claiming Ubisoft had turned a historical figure into a caricature to appease Western sensibilities, all while disrespecting Japan’s cultural heritage. Posts like “Ubisoft’s forcing Yasuke into a gay soap opera—Japan deserves better” and “This is a humiliation ritual, not a game” spread like wildfire, often paired with clips of the scene edited with laugh tracks or mocking captions. The term “humiliation” seems to stem from the perception that Ubisoft is trivializing Yasuke’s legacy—already debated among historians—and using him as a prop in what critics call a “woke agenda.”

But where did this narrative come from? The YouTube video cites no official Ubisoft statement tying the scene to any “ritual,” suggesting the phrase is hyperbole meant to provoke. Still, it’s stuck, fueled by a mix of genuine frustration and outrage bait. Web searches reveal earlier hints of this backlash, with That Park Place reporting in May 2024 that Ubisoft confirmed Yasuke and Naoe could pursue same-sex romances—a feature optional to players but baked into the game’s RPG mechanics. What’s new is the intensity, with Shadows’ launch amplifying every misstep into a viral spectacle.

Japan’s Reaction: Real or Rumored?

A key pillar of the controversy is the claim that Japan itself is offended. X posts allege that the Japanese government, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (misidentified as Ishiba in some rants), has condemned Shadows for its portrayal of Yasuke and its broader cultural missteps. One user wrote, “Even Japan’s PM is disgusted—Ubisoft’s woke abomination spits on tradition,” while another claimed, “The National Diet is debating this trash on live TV tomorrow!” These assertions paint a picture of a nation united in outrage, but how much truth lies behind them?

Digging deeper, evidence of official backlash is murky. A July 23, 2024, statement from Ubisoft to its “esteemed Japanese community” acknowledged “concern” over promotional materials and apologized for unspecified missteps, noting that Shadows is “historical fiction,” not fact. However, no credible news outlet—like NHK or Asahi Shimbun—has reported a March 2025 Diet session addressing the game, as some X posts suggest. A Reuters piece from earlier this year mentions Japanese historians questioning Yasuke’s samurai depiction, but it stops short of government intervention. The “PM’s fury” seems more like internet embellishment than fact, possibly rooted in mistranslations or wishful thinking from detractors.

That said, Japanese players have voiced displeasure. Posts on sites like 5ch and comments on Ubisoft Japan’s socials criticize the game’s “Western lens,” with one user writing, “Yasuke as a gay samurai feels like a Hollywood fantasy, not our history.” Others mock the English-accented Japanese NPCs and the game’s bugs—like a viral clip of Yasuke trashing a Shinto shrine due to a physics glitch—as further proof of disrespect. Whether this reflects a national consensus or a vocal minority is unclear, but it’s enough to keep the “humiliation” narrative alive.

Ubisoft’s Intent: Creative Liberty or Cultural Insult?

Ubisoft has long walked a tightrope between historical inspiration and creative freedom. Assassin’s Creed Shadows is no exception, opening with the franchise’s familiar disclaimer: “Inspired by historical events and characters, this work of fiction…” The inclusion of Yasuke, a real figure with scant documentation, gave developers room to imagine his story—here, as a samurai torn between loyalty and vengeance. Naoe, a fictional shinobi, complements him, offering stealth to his strength. The romance system, a staple since Odyssey, lets players choose partners for both, including same-sex options—a nod to RPG trends and inclusivity.

The “gay humiliation ritual” label, though, hinges on Yasuke’s scene with Ibuki. Critics argue it’s not just cringe-worthy—it’s a deliberate jab at Japan’s past. Web articles from TheGamer and Pink News note that homosexuality existed among samurai (e.g., the shudo tradition), but Shadows’ execution feels anachronistic, with dialogue more suited to a modern rom-com than feudal Japan. Ubisoft’s blog from May 2024 defends the choice, stating, “Romantically, [Yasuke and Naoe] will attract and be attracted to different types of people,” framing it as player agency. Yet, the forced delivery and lack of buildup have turned a potentially progressive move into a punchline.

Add to this the game’s technical woes—NPCs clipping through walls, Yasuke’s cape igniting randomly—and it’s easy to see why trust in Ubisoft’s vision is shaky. X users quip, “They can’t even code a shrine right, let alone respect Japan.” The perception of a “humiliation ritual” isn’t just about sexuality—it’s about a broader sense that Ubisoft prioritized ideology over authenticity, then botched the delivery.

The Viral Fallout: Memes and Mayhem

The internet has turned Shadows into a meme factory. Clips of the Yasuke-Ibuki scene, dubbed over with Curb Your Enthusiasm music or sarcastic narration, dominate YouTube and X. Channels like Vara Dark amplify the cringe, with titles like “Ubisoft’s Gay Ritual Disaster!” racking up views. On X, hashtags like #ACShadowsCringe and #BoycottUbisoft trend alongside edits of Yasuke flailing in buggy combat, captioned, “When your gay samurai glitches out of history.” The mockery is relentless, blending outrage with dark humor.

This isn’t just a gaming spat—it’s a culture war flashpoint. Right-wing commentators, from Tim Pool to Daily Wire hosts, have seized on Shadows as “woke” gone wild, citing Yasuke’s race and sexuality as evidence of Ubisoft’s “pandering.” Forbes reported in 2024 on similar pre-launch gripes, but the post-release explosion has taken it to new heights. Defenders counter that the outrage is overblown, pointing to Odyssey and Valhalla’s queer options—yet those games never faced this level of scorn. The difference? Shadows’ Japan setting and Yasuke’s historical baggage make it a bigger target.

Ubisoft’s Silence and the Bigger Picture

As of today, Ubisoft has issued no fresh response to the “gay humiliation ritual” claims, leaving its July apology as the last word. The silence fuels speculation—some X users suggest the company’s too scared to double down, while others whisper of internal panic as investors eye a Tencent merger (a rumor since 2024). Financially, Ubisoft’s in dire straits—Reuters notes a stock drop to €2 billion, worsened by flops like Star Wars Outlaws. Shadows was meant to be a savior; instead, it’s a liability.

Yet, amidst the chaos, some players praise the game. Web reviews from IGN and Eurogamer laud its visuals—cherry blossoms in bloom, dynamic seasons—and its combat, with Yasuke’s brutality shining despite the bugs. “It’s flawed but stunning,” one X user wrote, a rare voice in the storm. The question is whether this goodwill can outlast the viral cringe.

Conclusion: A Ritual of Missteps?

Assassin’s Creed Shadows aimed to blend history, diversity, and player choice into a bold new chapter. Instead, it’s a cautionary tale of ambition undone by execution. The “gay humiliation ritual” label is hyperbolic, born from a cringe-inducing scene that’s less offensive than it is awkward. Japan’s alleged outrage seems overstated—more a product of internet echo chambers than official decree. Yet, Ubisoft’s inability to nail the landing, from buggy code to tone-deaf writing, has handed detractors a megaphone.

Is this the end for Shadows—or Ubisoft? Not yet. Patches could fix the glitches, and time might soften the backlash. But for now, the game’s legacy is one of viral infamy—a samurai epic where the real battle is online, and the wounds are self-inflicted. As one X post put it: “Ubisoft didn’t just swing the katana—they stabbed themselves with it.” Ouch.