Assassin's Creed Shadows Producer Responds To Yasuke Backlash

Ubisoft producer Marc-Alexis Côté managed his emotions after reading Elon Musk's tweet by practicing mindfulness. He used a mindfulness app on his phone to help him explore and process the emotions that the tweet had generated. This allowed him to take a step back and refrain from responding impulsively to Musk's statement. Instead, he focused on the game and the team's vision, emphasizing that Yasuke's inclusion in Assassin's Creed Shadows is well-grounded in the franchise's history and the creative choices they make when incorporating historical figures.

Some people gave several reasons for the backlash against Yasuke's character in Assassin's Creed Shadows. These reasons include:

1. Historical inaccuracy: Some argued that Yasuke was not a true samurai and that his inclusion in the game was not faithful to the historical context of feudal Japan.

2. Racism: Some who joined the backlash were racists who were upset at the idea of a Black man starring in a game set in feudal Japan.

3. Cultural representation concerns: Some Asian Americans expressed concern online about representation in the new game, criticizing the industry's history of sidelining Asian male characters and stressing the importance of proper representation.

4. Deviation from original story: Other critics argued that the game's depiction of Yasuke may not fully honor his true narrative, sparking a broader debate on the responsibilities of game developers in representing historical figures.

5. Political and social issues: The addition of Yasuke in the game raised political and social issues, as games, like other media, don't exist in a vacuum and can reflect or have an impact on societal beliefs.

These reasons contributed to the controversy surrounding Yasuke's character in Assassin's Creed Shadows.