Ubisoft’s latest installment, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, sparked conversations and controversys, no joke. People around the world are debating the motivation behind making Yasuke a samurai.
Ubisoft has successfully drawn attention.
The game’s announcement in May 2024 introduced Yasuke, an African samurai, as a co-lead character, leading to a wave of backlash. Notably, Elon Musk, owner of social media platform X, contributed to the discourse, criticizing the game’s perceived “wokeness”.
And this is not the first time Elon joined the conversation and made a comment about the DEI topic. Elon literally throwing punches against Sweet Baby Inc, just months ago.
Controversy Surrounding Yasuke
The backlash against Yasuke’s inclusion centered on accusations of “wokeness” and alleged pandering to diversity. Critics argued that the historical accuracy of the game was compromised, despite Yasuke being a real historical figure who served under the Japanese warlord Oda Nobunaga in the late 1500s. This criticism was further amplified when Elon Musk tweeted, “DEI kills art,” in response to calls for Ubisoft to delay the game’s release due to the backlash.
Marc-Alexis Côté’s Response
Marc-Alexis Côté, the executive producer of Assassin’s Creed, chose to address the controversy with a measured and thoughtful response. Instead of engaging directly with Musk’s tweet, Côté emphasized the importance of mindfulness and maintaining focus on the game’s vision.
Côté shared his initial reaction during an interview with Stephen Totilo’s Game File:
“That tweet generated emotions. The first thing I wanted to do was go back on X – that I had deleted – and just tweet back. And I just took a step back. I have a mindfulness app on my phone. And I did a bit of mindfulness to try to explore the emotions that this tweet created. For me, Elon, it’s sad, he’s just feeding hatred. I had a lot of three word replies that came to mind.”
Côté’s restraint underscores his commitment to the game’s artistic vision and the story they aim to tell.
The Vision Behind Yasuke
Côté firmly believes that players will understand the inclusion of Yasuke once they experience the game. He mentioned a specific moment in the game that he feels will be pivotal for players:
“People will have to play the game for themselves. And if, within the first 11 minutes and 47 seconds, they are not convinced of what we’re doing, we can have the discussion. I was reviewing the game very recently, and I was like, ‘The answer is there!’ I just hope and wish that people can keep an open mind about this and see the game for what it is. It’s an Assassin’s Creed game, and I believe the best one we’ve ever built.”
This statement reflects Côté’s confidence in the game’s narrative and the depth of Yasuke’s character.
Assassin’s Creed Infinity Becomes Animus Hub
In addition to addressing the Yasuke controversy, Côté revealed significant updates about the series’ future. Assassin’s Creed Infinity, previously described as an interactive hub for the series, has been rebranded as the Animus Hub. This change emphasizes the central role the Animus technology plays in the Assassin’s Creed universe, where modern-day segments will be accessed from this hub moving forward.
The Animus Hub will serve as the central point from which players can access various Assassin’s Creed experiences. This rebranding aims to create a more cohesive and immersive experience for players, allowing them to dive deeper into the game’s lore and historical settings. Côté promised more details on the Animus Hub in the future, keeping fans eagerly anticipating what’s to come.