Ubisoft Confirms Day-One Patch for Assassin's Creed Shadows Amid Japan Concerns

IGN has confirmed that Ubisoft has quietly prepared a day-one patch for Assassin’s Creed Shadows that introduces several significant changes, particularly affecting temples and shrines. Ubisoft shared the patch notes with IGN, which were not included in any public announcement.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Day-One Patch Notes:

This update brings various improvements and fixes, including:

• Players no longer getting stuck inside movable objects after dodging forward and interacting with them in kofuns
• Fix for procedural weapons being removed incorrectly when selling items
• Adjustments to prevent players from going out of bounds when proning against objects
• Improved horse navigation, reducing issues with turning and blocked paths
• Lighting adjustments for cave, kofun, and architectural entrances/exits
• Fixes for cloth clipping on Yasuke’s outfits (while riding) and Naoe’s outfits (while crouching)
• Citizens without weapons no longer bleed when attacked, reducing unintended blood spill in temples/shrines
• Tables and racks in temples/shrines are now indestructible (Some objects like drums or bowls can still be broken as they are generic ones present everywhere in the world) (Tables are still dynamic objects, so players can still move/push them)

The headline change here is the modification to tables and racks in temples and shrines, which are now indestructible in the game set in Feudal Japan. Ubisoft told IGN that the day-one patch is for all players and not Japan-specific, but it’s hard to see this particular change as anything but a response to the controversy surrounding the game in the country.

Yesterday, on March 19, Shigeru Ishiba, the Prime Minister of Japan, responded to a question about Assassin’s Creed Shadows during an official government conference meeting. The question was raised by Japanese politician and member of the House of Councillors of Japan, Hiroyuki Kada. Kada, who is campaigning for re-election this summer, expressed his concerns:

“I fear that allowing players to attack and destroy real-world locations in the game without permission could encourage similar behavior in real life. Shrine officials and local residents are also worried about this. Of course, freedom of expression must be respected, but acts that demean local cultures should be avoided.”

Prime Minister Ishiba responded:

“How to address this legally is something we need to discuss with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Defacing a shrine is out of the question - it is an insult to the nation itself. When the Self-Defense Forces were deployed to Samawah, Iraq, we ensured they studied Islamic customs beforehand. Respecting the culture and religion of a country is fundamental, and we must make it clear that we will not simply accept acts that disregard them.”

The Complete Assassin's Creed Timeline

25 Images

The shrine being “defaced” in pre-release Assassin's Creed Shadows gameplay videos is Itatehyozu Shrine in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, which falls within Kada’s constituency. He mentioned that he had consulted with representatives of the shrine, who confirmed that Ubisoft did not seek their permission to feature the shrine and use its name in the game.

While Masaki Ogushi, Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, stated that government agencies will collaborate to address the issue “if the shrine seeks consultation,” Ubisoft would likely be legally clear to use the shrine under the Constitution of Japan, given it is a work of artistic expression.

Responses from both ministers were vague and seem unlikely to lead to any specific action, especially since Ubisoft appears to have proactively addressed these concerns with the day-one patch. The patch does not appear to be live in-game yet, based on IGN’s tests.

Regardless of the game’s performance in Japan, there is significant pressure on Assassin's Creed Shadows to succeed globally for Ubisoft, following several delays and the sales disappointment of last year’s Star Wars Outlaws. Ubisoft has faced numerous challenges, including high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations leading up to the release of Assassin's Creed Shadows.

IGN’s review of Assassin’s Creed Shadows awarded it an 8/10, stating: “By sharpening the edges of its existing systems, Assassin’s Creed Shadows creates one of the best versions of the open-world style it’s been honing for the last decade.”