Source: Ubisoft / Assassin's Creed Shadows
Instead of celebrating to get what appears to be a new and exciting entry into the Assassin's Creed franchise with Shadowspeople focus on describing the game as “woke” and “irreverent” because of its two main protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke.
Ubisoft excitedly revealed the story trailer Assassin's Creed Shadowswhich was originally named Assassin's Creed Red. The game will take the franchise to 16th century Japan and feature Yasuke, historically considered to be Japan's first black samurai, who has met many prominent figures in Japanese history as a playable character.
There was also one Netflix animated series for Yasuke starring LaKeith Stanfield, and has appeared in both Nioh video games.
The other playable character, Naoe, is described as an experienced shinobi assassin from Iga Province.
Haters gonna hate
During the excitement over the game's announcement, many comments called it “woke” because Assassin's Creed Shadows starring a black man and a Japanese woman.
Some went so far as to accuse Ubisoft of “disrespect” because Yasuke, a black samurai, the game's depiction is not “historically accurate” and is a product of DEI.
A black user on X pointed out how his excitement to play as Yasuke led to racist backlash under Ubisoft's official post for the game.
In response to the hate the game is getting, players point to other times where white men have appeared in movies and games with feudal Japanese settings, such as 2003 The Last Samurai starring Tom Cruise, most recently, FX's historical Shogun series and Team Ninja's 2017 game Nioh.
Others also call the “historical accuracy” arguments unfair.
Trolls will be trolls.
We look forward to happily playing as Yasuke and Naoe when Assassin's Creed Shadows falls on November 15th.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
