Ubisoft unveiled Assassin’s Creed Shadows last week, giving us our first real glimpse at the first Assassin’s Creed game to be set in Japan. Its Feudal Japan setting is something that fans of Assassin’s Creed have craved for a long time, and while it’s awesome that Ubisoft is finally delivering that concept, some other games did beat it to the punch. Many other developers have noticed how fruitful a historical Japan setting can be, from its feudal era all the way until the West started to intervene in the Edo period. As a result, there are quite a few games that I can recommend you check out while you’re waiting for Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ November 15 launch.
Let’s Not Pretend We’re Mad the New Assassins Creed Shadows Samurai Isn’t Asian
17.05.2024 - 14:41 / ign.com
Ubisoft has finally announced its long-awaited Assassin’s Creed game set in feudal Japan. Subtitled Shadows, it follows dual protagonists – a ninja named Naoe and a samurai based on the historical Black samurai Yasuke.
While it’s a known issue that Asian representation in Western games is severely lacking, I find it hypocritical and laughable that we’re only talking about the need for an Asian protagonist now that it’s been revealed Assassin’s Creed Shadows will star a Black samurai. This misses the forest for the trees. While I am always advocating for more Asian men in AAA games, I’ll be the first to say that better representation isn’t going to be found in yet another samurai hero.
Ubisoft deciding to focus on Yasuke — a known historical figure — is a smart move. An Assassin’s Creed game set in Japan that otherwise would have been, frankly, hard to distinguish from some other recent open-world samurai games. And if I wanted to see an Asian samurai protagonist I don’t have to look very hard.
Asian samurai protagonists are a path already well-trodden. There’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Katana Zero, Like A Dragon: Ishin!, Samurai Warriors, Rise of the Ronin, Onimusha, Way of the Samurai, Way of the Samurai 2, Ghost of Tsushima… There’s also my personal favorite, Muramasa: The Demon Blade. I can go on and on. So it’s difficult to come to any other conclusion than that the limited imagination of AAA game development can only envision Asian heroes when they wield katanas or ninja stars.
Worse still, the complex characters that were so wonderfully brought to life in shows like Shogun are often distilled into their simplest forms in games, especially those created by Western studios. While Japanese developer-led titles like Sekiro and Like a Dragon: Ishin utilize their samurai protagonists to tell nuanced stories about overcoming fantastical challenges, or provide a glimpse of street-level heroics in Edo Japan, the Western-developed games fail to hit a similar level of complexity, often falling back on tired tropes of honor and stoicism.
And that’s only accounting for games that try to tell a story using their samurai protagonist. More often than not the samurai archetype is a vehicle for combat first, eschewing any kind of narrative flavor for a cool sword and top-knot. Consider hero games like Overwatch that feature two kinds of samurai, and a ninja, for their Japanese cast. And all flowers to Ghost of Tsushima for its beautifully rendered open world and combat, but Jin Sakai has about as much charisma as a wet piece of cloth.
The main grievance I have as an Asian American in games in regards to representation isn’t the lack of it — as evidenced by the Wikipedia page full of Asian fighters and ninjas and
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thegamer.com
19.05.2024 / 12:53
Assassin's Creed Shadows Pre-Orders Are Reportedly "Very Strong"
Assassin's Creed Shadows was properly revealed earlier this week, following its vague tease back in 2022. Alongside the reveal trailer, pre-orders also went live, as the game is set to launch later this year.
thegamer.com
19.05.2024 / 00:15
Assassin's Creed Shadows Fans May Have Already Worked Out The Game's Map
Assassin's Creed Shadows has finally been revealed, with more info surrounding the game now online to pore over until launch. There's still a lot we don't know though, including where in Japan the game is actually set. We know that the game's map will be about as big as the one in Assassin's Creed Origins, but fans now think that they've nailed down the area of Japan in which we'll be running around as Naoe and Yasuke.
screenrant.com
18.05.2024 / 21:57
Assassin's Creed Shadows Thankfully Won't Have A Common But Controversial Gaming Feature
is thankfully avoiding a controversial gaming feature that has become more prominent in recent years. While Ubisoft initially revealed its Japan-set title back in 2022 under the working title "", it recently revealed more about the next entry in its long-running franchise, introducing its dual protagonists, Yasuke and Naoe, and their story in a new cinematic trailer, alongside a release date of November 15, 2024.
digitaltrends.com
17.05.2024 / 18:45
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: release date, trailers, gameplay, and more
We’ve been asking for it ever since the series debut, and now we’re finally getting an Assassin’s Creed game set in Feudal Japan. Previously known by the code name Assassin’s Creed Red, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be the latest entry in the long-running Assassin’s saga. Ubisoft let us know we would be getting the world premiere trailer first, but it turns out there was a lot more to show than just a first glimpse at the game. We’ve managed to gather all the footage and information shared online to deliver you the goods about Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
pushsquare.com
17.05.2024 / 00:31
Assassin's Creed Shadows the Actual Name of AC Red, Reveal This Week | Push Square
Update: It's been noticed in one of the YouTube descriptions for the cinematic trailer that Assassin's Creed Shadows releases on 15th November 2024 for PS5. There's no PS4 version.
gamesradar.com
16.05.2024 / 19:27
Assassin's Creed Shadows fan theory might have pinpointed the open-world game's historical setting with a crucial event in Japanese history
Assassin's Creed Shadows fans think they've worked out where the upcoming game could potentially conclude.
ign.com
16.05.2024 / 15:33
Assassin's Creed Shadows Requires an Internet Connection to Install, But Not to Play After
The Japan-set Assassin's Creed Shadows requires an internet connection to install but not to play after, Ubisoft has confirmed.
gamingbolt.com
16.05.2024 / 14:27
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Has 15 Ubisoft Studios Providing Support
Ubisoft Quebec is leading development on Assassin’s Creed Shadows, but as with previous Ubisoft titles, multiple other studios are providing support. As noted on the game’s official website, the open-world action RPG has the likes of Ubisoft Belgrade, Ubisoft Bordeaux, Ubisoft Bucharest, Ubisoft Chengdu and more involved.
gamingbolt.com
16.05.2024 / 14:27
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Trailer Breakdown Expands on Historical Setting and Story
If the new cinematic trailer for Assassin’s Creed Shadows didn’t provide enough about the open-world action RPG, a new breakdown is available that goes into more detail. Creative director Jonathan Dumont and assistant director of cinematic design Akim Milne talk about the presentation, including the use of split screens in the trailer and the game’s setting.
gadgets.ndtv.com
16.05.2024 / 10:53
Assassin's Creed Shadows Trailer Reveals Dual Protagonists, Launch Set for November 15
Assassin's Creed Shadows, the next instalment in Ubisoft's stealth/action-RPG franchise, will be released November 15 across PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X and Amazon Luna. Previously known as Assassin's Creed Codename Red, the upcoming title will explore the long-requested setting of Feudal Japan through the eyes of two playable protagonists with distinct playstyles and abilities. Assassin's Creed Shadows was fully revealed by Ubisoft with a near-four-minute-long cinematic trailer on Wednesday, detailing the game's dual protagonists and its Japanese setting.
comingsoon.net
15.05.2024 / 19:03
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Trailer Sets Release Date, Highlights Japan Setting
, the latest entry in the series, premiered its first trailer on Wednesday, teasing a story focused on two characters who must come together.