To avoid harassment, staff at Assassin’s Creed Shadows studio Ubisoft Quebec have been “advised” not to celebrate or otherwise post on social media about the game’s launch this week. This follows months of online anger directed at the open world game, much of it from individuals criticizing the game without actually playing it.
While much of the criticism was aimed at the inclusion of black samurai protagonist Yasuke, Ubisoft released a statement last July apologizing for promotional materials that caused concern within the Japanese community. They emphasized that Shadows aims to be an “immersive and respectful” work of historical fiction rather than a factual representation.
There has been hostility towards the game online, leading Ubisoft to implement an internal anti-online harassment plan. This initiative involves closely monitoring activity on social media platforms like X, Reddit, and YouTube and taking swift action in response to any issues. Lawyers are prepared to file complaints in cases of proven harassment.
Ubisoft spokesperson stated, “Our top priority is the safety of our employees, including online. We offer guidance on navigating social media, digital safety, and support for team members’ well-being to prevent and protect against online harassment.”
In January, Square Enix also announced a new policy to address harassment, bigotry, and inappropriate compensation requests.
