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 implements several significant changes, including modifications to temples and shrines. Ubisoft provided IGN with the patch notes for this update, which were not part of 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 key change here involves tables and racks in temples and shrines, which are now indestructible in the Feudal Japan-set game. Ubisoft confirmed to IGN that the day-one patch applies to all players globally, though it's difficult not to see this particular change as a direct response to the controversy surrounding the game in Japan.

On March 19, during an official government conference meeting, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba addressed a question about Assassin’s Creed Shadows posed by Hiroyuki Kada, a Japanese politician and member of the House of Councillors. Kada, who is campaigning for re-election this summer, expressed concerns about the potential impact of the game:

“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.”

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

Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Masaki Ogushi stated that government agencies would collaborate to address the issue "if the shrine seeks consultation." However, under the Constitution of Japan, Ubisoft's use of the shrine in a work of artistic expression is likely to be legally permissible.

Responses from both ministers were somewhat vague and seem unlikely to lead to specific actions, especially since Ubisoft has proactively addressed these concerns with the day-one patch. As of IGN's latest tests, the patch has not yet gone live in-game.

Despite the game's reception in Japan, there is significant pressure on Assassin’s Creed Shadows to perform well globally for Ubisoft, following multiple delays and the commercial disappointment of last year's Star Wars Outlaws. Ubisoft has faced a series of 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.”