Part 9/10:
The Future of Representation in Historical Games
The backlash to Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows trailer underscores the tension between creative expression and cultural respect. As the game possibly hits the market, it remains to be seen whether the controversy will impact sales or franchise reputation.
Many fans and cultural commentators suggest that if Ubisoft truly wanted to incorporate diverse protagonists, they should consider settings and characters grounded in well-documented histories—like Africa, which they have already explored—rather than retrofitting or misrepresenting Japan’s rich heritage.