Was Yasuke Samurai Or Retainer?Controversy For Assassin’s Creed Shadows

“Assassin’s Creed Shadows” is an upcoming action role-playing video game developed by Ubisoft Quebec and published by Ubisoft.

It is set to release on November 15, 2024, and will be the fourteenth major installment in the Assassin’s Creed series.

The game is set in 16th-century Japan during the end of the Sengoku period, focusing on the story of Naoe and Yasuke.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Features Yasuke And Naoe Fujibayashi

Yasuke and Naoe Fujibayashi are the two new protoganists in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Generally, people know Yasuke as Japan’s first black samurai and a retainer to lord Oda Nobunaga, and Naoe Fujibayashi, a trained ninja Assassin.

Yasuke was serving as a kosho, or page, for about 15 months until Nobunaga’s death in the Honno-ji Incident.

However, none knows his real name, but, “Yasuke” was a name given to him by Nobunaga. 

To train Yasuke as a samurai, there was the use of powerful weapons and armor. Meanwhile, Naoe Fujibayashi uses stealth and weapons like shuriken or the Hidden Blade.

Controversy With Samurai Retainer In Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is raising controversy regarding the inclusion of Yasuke as one of the main characters.

Some people are blaming the game as “woke” and “disrespectful” for featuring Yasuke, who is historically Japan’s first black samurai.

The controversy says that the addition of Yasuke’s in the game is inappropriate, they all want poc’s.

He is not native to the game’s setting, and some say that it is historically incorrect to label him a samurai.

However, others justify the game’s decision where they point out Yasuke’s status as a Kosho.

Significantly, Kosho is a bodyguard or personal servant to a general or lord, historically makes him a samurai.

Additionally, people are criticizing the game’s narrative for allegedly planning to use the Sword of Eden, an Excalibur, like artifact, to provide conflict.

They argue that Oda Nobunaga’s use of it to gain an “unfair advantage” deviates from historical accuracy, a point of contention among some fans.

Will The Samurai Retainer Raise Political Issues?

In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the addition of Yasuke, Samurai Retainer can surely raise political and social issues.

This is due to the fact that games, like other media, don’t exist in a vacuum and can reflect or have an impact on societal beliefs.

In addition, the developers might face a balancing act between historical authenticity and creative storytelling, not to mention contemporary social values.

This means that focusing on a character like Yasuke could be an attempt to highlight underrepresented stories in popular media, which might be, by itself, a political statement.

The narrative decisions that the developers make will determine how the game handles political subjects.

Contrarily, it depends on the development of character’s story and the issues that players choose to be explore.

Is Ubisoft Looking Forward To Samurai Retainer Criticisms?

Ubisoft has not issued a formal statement in response to the controversies over the character of Yasuke in “Assassin’s Creed Shadows.”

For example, they have apologized before for a scandal about “Assassin’s Creed Odyssey” DLC.

Ubisoft is highlighting that the “Assassin’s Creed” series is historic fiction and fantasy in nature.

However, in order to enhance the gaming experience and plot, company must use creative license.

Basically, it is a single-player game requiring an online connection, thus, it is crucial to note that the game is also drawing criticism for this feature.

Contrarily, fans are raising an objection to this, which is unrelated to the question of historical accuracy.