Assassin’s Creed Shadows just can’t escape the controversy. There’s a new clip which showcases one of the weirdest voice acting moments.

Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows was already fighting an uphill battle and things may have just gotten worse. We’re just a day from the game’s release and this time, it’s not about historical accuracy or gameplay. A recent clip from early previews of the game showed Naoe, one of the game’s two protagonists, talking to a shopkeeper. And the voice acting was something.

It literally made no sense. | Image Credit: Ubisoft

The NPC vendor delivered the line in an oddly monotone and unnatural manner and combined with the bizarre phrasing, it just sounds weird. Fans have already started calling it out and ridiculing it. The line goes like this, “Resentment can grow quietly, without much warning after a storm. Mushrooms can too, Shiitake?”

Assassin’s Creed Shadows has a really weird moment with a shop vendor

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This clip has been found just a day ahead of the game’s release and we’re already seeing some fast and negative reactions on X/Twitter. @Mangalawyer, wrote, “I was waiting quietly in the dark, expecting to see some truly horrible voice acting from Assassin’s Creed Shadows, but this is beyond unimaginable levels.“

The weirdest thing we’ve noticed is how unnatural the shopkeeper’s voice sounds. Fans like @TheDezembro are questioning whether Ubisoft used AI, “I know we say this as a joke sometimes, but this legit sounds like ‘AI,’ or to be specific, those text-to-voice things.” There’s obviously no proof of anything like that, but the monotone line delivery leaves a lot to be desired.

Ubisoft has been no stranger to criticism, especially in the last few years. The company faced backlash for delayed game releases, disappointing titles, and unpopular monetization. Games like Skull and Bones, Star Wars Outlaws, and XDefiant were all nothing special. Xdefiant even got shut down, so it really needed a win with Shadows, but it seems like that’s not what we’re getting.

Shadows has already been a divisive game because of all the historical inaccuracies and ongoing “anti-DEI” backlash. The last thing Ubisoft needed was another reason for us to doubt its competence. The quality of voice acting in Assassin’s Creed games has traditionally been one of its strong points and that is what puzzles us even more.

Ubisoft really needs a win right now

We’re all for it, but the studio has to try too. | Image Credit: Ubisoft

Despite some positive early reviews, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is launching in a fragile state. A report from BFMTV (via Forbes) has revealed that Ubisoft has advised the developers of AC Shadows not to publicly discuss their work on the game to avoid harassment. On this note, in particular, we do have to say that just because the game has flaws doesn’t mean that we have the right to harass the developers.

This backlash has put Ubisoft in a difficult position. If the shopkeeper’s voice acting is a placeholder or something, we need to be clarified. If it’s an AI-generated voice, the studio will have to decide whether to re-record it with real actors. But at the very least, the company needs to acknowledge the issue before this situation overshadows the game’s actual content.

Despite all this, we can still expect the game to have redeeming qualities. The reviews for the game are out ahead of its release and if we are to believe them, there are a lot of things to appreciate. But can we really pay $70 for a game that’s okay at best in 2025? We can’t let studios get away with this. Do you agree? Let us know your thoughts!