A petition to cancel Assassin’s Creed Shadows has gained significant traction online, amassing nearly 73,000 signatures, with over 3,000 added just today. The game has sparked controversy since its initial reveal, particularly due to its protagonists. Fans have long awaited a main series Assassin’s Creed installment set in feudal Japan, but the inclusion of its main characters has stirred considerable debate.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows introduces two playable protagonists: Naoe, a female shinobi, and Yasuke, an African samurai. Criticism has been directed at the game for featuring an African character instead of a Japanese one, despite Yasuke being a historically documented figure. Some have raised concerns about the portrayal of Yasuke, accusing the game of historical inaccuracy, while others appear to object simply because of his race. As a result, critics of Assassin’s Creed Shadows have launched a petition urging the cancellation of the upcoming open-world title.
The Change.org petition, organized by an individual named Shimizu Toru, criticizes Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ historical accuracy when it comes to its depiction of samurai. According to the petition (which Game Rant translated using Google Translate), Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a “serious insult” to Japanese culture, and it goes as far as to accuse the game of racism. The petition has been signed nearly 73,000 times so far, with new signatures added with nearly every refresh of the page.
The Change.org petition for Assassin’s Creed Shadows has nearly 73,000 signatures
Despite widespread discontent with Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ main characters, it’s unlikely that the petition will lead to the game’s cancellation. Historically, the vast majority of video game petitions are disregarded, and this one is likely to meet the same fate. Barring unforeseen delays, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is scheduled for a global release on November 15 across multiple platforms, regardless of petition signatures requesting its cancellation.
It’s important to note that historical accuracy has never been a hallmark of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. While the developers meticulously recreate landmarks and significant locations, the stories and characters are predominantly fictional, with a few exceptions. Many games in the series involve individuals using a machine to access their ancestors’ memories for assassinations and daring parkour feats, blending science fiction with historical settings. Moreover, Assassin’s Creed games occasionally incorporate supernatural elements, further emphasizing that strict historical fidelity has never been the primary focus.
The Main Plot Of Assassin’s Creed
The main plot of the Assassin’s Creed series revolves around a conflict between two secret societies throughout history: the Assassins and the Templars (also known as the Order of the Ancients or the Abstergo Industries). Central to the series is the use of a device called the Animus, which allows individuals to access and relive the genetic memories of their ancestors. This technology is exploited by modern-day factions seeking artifacts of immense power left behind by an ancient civilization, the Isu (also known as the First Civilization or Precursors).
Players typically experience the historical settings through the eyes of Assassins, skilled fighters and freethinkers who oppose the Templars’ quest for control and order. The series spans various periods, including the Crusades, Renaissance Italy, the American Revolution, Victorian London, and beyond, each installment blending historical events and figures with a narrative that explores themes of freedom, control, and the consequences of wielding power.
Throughout its iterations, Assassin’s Creed has evolved to incorporate elements of science fiction, ancient mythology, and philosophical discourse, offering players a rich tapestry of historical intrigue, action-packed gameplay, and a sprawling, interconnected storyline that spans centuries.
Some Facts In Assassin’s Creed
The franchise started by accident
While Assassin’s Creed is a household name today, it almost ended up as something very different. As DidYouKnowGaming? reveals, the original crusade-era set game was due to a Prince of Persia game known as Prince of Persia: Assassin, with a prince’s bodyguard as the protagonist. Ubisoft top brass, unhappy with the idea of a Prince of Persia game not being about a prince (oddly, Nintendo don’t see an issue with when it comes to Zelda), insisted on a new brand, and Assassin’s Creed was born.
The game’s back story stretches 2,500 years
While the story of the mainline games stretches around 821 years, from the original Assassin’s Creed in 1191 to around 2012 and Desmond Miles’ modern day story, Ubisoft has created a massive, Star Wars Expanded Universe style backstory stuffed with lore and interspliced with historical events. According to the publisher, the first known assassin was Xerxes, who killed King Darius of Persia according to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, meaning the tradition stretches back millenia.
Assassin’s Creed is more successful than FIFA
By some metrics, anyway. Granted, stealth versus soccer simulator is hardly apples with apples and Ubisoft isn’t seeing the astonishing revenue EA generates with Ultimate Team mode each season. But given that both series are near annual, it’s an interesting comparison nonetheless. More than 93 million Assassin’s Creed games were sold between 2007 and 2015 – whereas it took EA 16 years to sell through 100 million units of FIFA, a milestone it hit in 2010. That makes Assassin’s Creed the faster-selling of the two series, while sales of both in recent years have been roughly on par – until the unfortunate failure of Assassin’s Creed: Unity, anyway.
Read more:
Top 10 Must-Have Merch For Assassin’s Creed Fans
Ranking All Assassin’s Creed Characters: From Legendary Assassins to Memorable NPCs
Unveiling the Top 11 Games in the Assassin’s Creed Series: A Journey Through the Ages
