Amid Japan Concern About Assassin's Creed Shadows, Ubisoft Confirms Day-One Patch That Makes Tables and Racks in Temples and Shrines Indestructible

Ubisoft has quietly released a day-one patch for Assassin's Creed Shadows, addressing several key issues, including concerns regarding the depiction of temples and shrines. IGN obtained the patch notes, which were not publicly announced by Ubisoft.

Assassin's Creed Shadows Day-One Patch Notes

This update includes numerous improvements and fixes:

• Resolved an issue where players became stuck inside movable objects after dodging and interacting with them in kofuns.
• Fixed a bug causing procedural weapons to be incorrectly removed when selling items.
• Implemented adjustments to prevent players from going out of bounds while proning against objects.
• Improved horse navigation, reducing issues with turning and blocked paths.
• Adjusted lighting in caves, kofuns, and architectural entrances/exits.
• Fixed cloth clipping issues on Yasuke's outfits (while riding) and Naoe's outfits (while crouching).
• Unarmed citizens no longer bleed when attacked, reducing unintended blood splatter in temples and shrines.
• Tables and racks in temples and shrines are now indestructible. (Note: Some smaller objects like drums or bowls remain breakable.)

A significant change involves making tables and racks in temples and shrines indestructible. While Ubisoft states the patch applies to all players, not just those in Japan, this specific alteration seems directly related to recent controversy surrounding the game in Japan.

On March 19th, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba addressed concerns about Assassin's Creed Shadows during a government conference. Japanese politician Hiroyuki Kada raised concerns about the potential for in-game actions to encourage real-world imitations, citing worries from shrine officials and residents. He emphasized the importance of respecting local cultures while acknowledging freedom of expression. Prime Minister Ishiba responded that the government would discuss the legal implications with relevant ministries, stressing the unacceptability of defacing shrines.

The shrine depicted in pre-release gameplay footage is Itatehyozu Shrine in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, within Kada’s constituency. Kada stated that Ubisoft did not obtain permission to use the shrine's likeness or name. While government responses were somewhat vague, Ubisoft's proactive patch may preempt further action. The patch's in-game availability remains unconfirmed at the time of this writing.

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The success of Assassin's Creed Shadows is crucial for Ubisoft, following delays and the underperformance of Star Wars Outlaws and other recent setbacks. IGN's review awarded the game an 8/10, praising its refined open-world gameplay.