A serious of very terrible, offensive and outright stupid, decisions has led to AC: Shadows launch being pushed back.
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, Ubisoft’s next big Assassin’s Creed entry, has been abruptly delayed to February 14, 2025. This announcement came shortly after Ubisoft pulled out of the Tokyo Game Show, raising serious concerns about the game’s development and its future. The sudden delay has stirred speculation, with fans and critics alike wondering what caused such a drastic move at the eleventh hour.
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The game, originally set for a November 2024 release, is now at the center of several controversies ranging from legal issues to cultural insensitivity.
Below are the top five reasons why Assassin’s Creed: Shadows may have been pushed back, with key insights drawn from the ongoing issues and the controversies that continue to mount.
1. The Game is a Buggy Mess
A YouTube video posted by DashBlue highlights a staggering number of bugs present in the game’s promotional footage, many of which sparked outrage online. Characters were seen glitching through objects, enemies would freeze mid-combat, and environment textures failed to load properly. Most notably, players criticized the infamous T-pose glitch, which made characters float awkwardly in the air during cutscenes. Such glaring technical issues led to widespread ridicule on social media, where fans questioned how a AAA game could be so unfinished in its pre-release state.
The official trailer for Shadows was a particular sore point. The trailer, meant to showcase the game’s refined combat and world-building, was instead met with backlash for its numerous visual errors and janky mechanics. With these bugs in mind, it’s likely Ubisoft decided the game was simply not ready for launch and opted for more time to fix these embarrassing flaws.
2. Copyright Infringement and Legal Hurdles
Another major concern is the possibility of legal action due to unauthorized use of Japanese historical symbols and locations. Ubisoft has faced criticism for including imagery such as the family crest of the Oda clan, which historically belonged to Oda Nobunaga, a Japanese warlord during the Sengoku period. Oda Nobunaga’s family, linked with Yasuke, Japan’s first black samurai, is prominently featured in Shadows. However, it’s unclear whether Ubisoft secured the necessary permissions to use these crests, which are often protected under Japanese cultural heritage laws.
Additionally, the depiction of a Buddha statue in one of the trailers has caused a stir. In Japan, certain Buddha statues, particularly those located in sacred areas, are not allowed to be portrayed in media due to their religious significance. The Shadows trailer shows a Buddha statue from a forbidden location, sparking outrage among Buddhist groups and cultural historians. Ubisoft now faces potential legal challenges, further complicating the game’s development.
3. Cultural Offensiveness and Poor Damage Control
Ubisoft has also faced backlash for its portrayal of Japanese culture, which many fans and critics argue is insensitive. The choice of protagonists—a black African samurai named Yasuke and a Chinese female assassin, Naoe—has been met with controversy. While Yasuke is a historical figure who did indeed serve Oda Nobunaga, many have questioned his inclusion in a game set in Japan’s feudal era, arguing that the portrayal feels forced and panders to Western sensibilities rather than reflecting Japanese history authentically.
Moreover, a specific scene in promotional material shows Naoe standing on top of the one-legged stone torii at the Sanno Shrine, which was partially destroyed by the Nagasaki atomic bombing. Ubisoft claimed Shadows was a historically accurate depiction of Japan, yet they showcased a protagonist standing on a torii that should not have been standing at the time. The juxtaposition of historical tragedy and a character striking a heroic pose caused outrage in Japan, exacerbating the game’s growing list of cultural blunders.
4. Strategic Delay for Black History Month
Some speculate that Ubisoft chose February 14, 2025, to coincide with Black History Month in the United States as part of a marketing push. The company may be attempting to appeal to black gamers by spotlighting Yasuke’s story, a rare example of a black historical figure in feudal Japan.
While this could be a strategic move, it’s risky, as February is already a crowded month for game releases, with Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Avowed, and Monster Hunter Wilds all set to launch. Releasing Shadows during this time could backfire if it struggles to stand out amidst the competition.
5. All of the Above
Ultimately, the decision to delay Assassin’s Creed: Shadows likely comes down to a combination of all these factors. A leaked letter from Ubisoft to investors mentioned the failure of Star Wars: Outlaws, which both critically and financially underperformed. Ubisoft is clearly keen to avoid another disaster, especially after the backlash surrounding Shadows. Pulling out of the Tokyo Game Show mere days before the event signals that Ubisoft is scrambling to manage these multiple crises.
Can Ubisoft Afford Another Failure?
The stakes for Ubisoft couldn’t be higher. The company has already invested heavily in Skull and Bones, which languished in development hell for over a decade before releasing to lukewarm reviews. Likewise, Star Wars: Outlaws failed to meet sales expectations, despite its association with the beloved Star Wars franchise. If Shadows follows suit, it could deal a devastating blow to Ubisoft’s finances. Estimates suggest that the company has spent over $400 million on these three projects alone.
With these challenges in mind, Ubisoft must ensure that Shadows not only meets the high expectations of its fanbase but also avoids the cultural and legal pitfalls that have already marred its reputation.