Summary
- Assassin’s Creed Shadows is facing controversy over a video showing the in-game destruction of a shrine.
- Itate Hyozu Shrine officials have expressed their displeasure with the shrine’s inclusion in the game, and intend to take legal action.
- Assassin’s Creed is a work of historical fiction and irreverence towards religion is nothing new for the series.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows has faced a constant barrage of cultural “controversy” since feudal Japan was announced as the game’s setting. There was faux-outrage surrounding the inclusion of the character Yasuke, who is based on a real historical figure. As the game approaches its belated release date on March 20, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is once again in the news as a viral video from earlier this month has reached the attention of shrine officials in Japan (nice spot, Automaton).
As reported by Sankei News, officials from the Itate Hyozu Shrine in Hyogo Prefecture have revealed that they are taking “appropriate action” over the shrine’s inclusion in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. According to a statement from the Itate Hyozu Shrine, they were not contacted by Ubisoft regarding the inclusion of the shrine in Shadows, and had Ubisoft asked permission, they would have refused.
Religious Irreverence Is Nothing New For Assassin’s Creed
The controversial video, which can be viewed above, depicts Yasuke entering the religious site and destroying various parts of the room, including the altar. While the player isn’t explicitly instructed to destroy the shine, the possibility of doing so has caused some anger.
While I’m sure the destruction of a beloved religious site isn’t the nicest thing to witness for those involved in the upkeep of its contemporary equivalent, the implication that a room in a video game having destructible elements constitutes gross disrespect is a stretch. You are not required to destroy the shine to progress in the game, and no promotional material for Assassin’s Creed Shadows features the destruction of religious sites.
The Assassin’s Creed series has always been a piece of historical fiction that portrays real people and events in a fictional manner. The Ezio Auditore era of the series dealt heavily with religious themes, especially concerning the Catholic Church. In Assassin’s Creed 2, Ezio holds Pope Alexander VI at blade-point and almost slays him. An irreverent approach to religion is nothing new for Assassin’s Creed and is vital to much of the series’ narrative.
Ubisoft has yet to respond publicly to the Itate Hyozu Shrine’s statement.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
- Released
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March 20, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language