Samurai Status Debate Sparks Controversy for Assassin's Creed Shadows Protagonist

The upcoming game, Assassin's Creed Shadows, is making waves with its fresh approach to the historical action-adventure genre. This iteration is taking players to feudal Japan, a setting that fans have long awaited. It also marks the very first time within the Assassin's Creed series that gamers will step into the shoes of an actual historical figure, Yasuke, who is considered the first non-Japanese samurai. However, there's a heated debate online regarding Yasuke's true status, leading to numerous contentious edits on his Wikipedia page. These "edit wars" are against Wikipedia's guidelines and highlight the sensitivities around portraying real historical figures in video games.

Assassin's Creed has a history of featuring historical characters, from Leonardo da Vinci in Assassin's Creed 2 to Socrates in Odyssey, usually in supporting roles. But in Assassin's Creed Shadows, Yasuke, alongside the character Naoe, a kunoichi, will lead the narrative. The adjustments to Yasuke's entry on Wikipedia sparked discussions over the authenticity of his samurai status, with some suggesting he may have merely been a weapon-bearer or not a samurai at all. Despite these contradictions, Yasuke is generally acknowledged as a true historical samurai, and the Japanese Wikipedia lists him accordingly.

The game promises to break new ground for the franchise and offers an engaging protagonist choice in the "Black Samurai." The open-world adventure title is projected for release on November 15, introducing new elements to the longstanding series.

Assassin's Creed Shadows introduces a historical setting in feudal Japan, allowing players to take on the role of Yasuke, the first known non-Japanese samurai. It breaks with series tradition by featuring a historical figure as the lead character and providing a narrative intertwined with real events and persons from the era.

Extra Background Information: Assassin's Creed is an acclaimed series of action-adventure games that blend historical fiction with real-world history and characters, developed and published by Ubisoft. The franchise is known for its open-world exploration, stealth gameplay, and influence of the ongoing battle between the Assassins, who fight for peace and freedom, and the Templars, who seek control. Yasuke's inclusion as the protagonist of Assassin's Creed Shadows relates to the series' narrative approach of reimagining significant historical periods and figures, incorporating a blend of factual and fictitious storytelling within its mythos.