Assassin’s Creed Shadows Is Being Censored – In Japan, Where It Takes Place

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The latest addition to the widely recognized historical action-adventure series, titled “Assassin’s Creed Shadows,” is set for release on March 20th. In this installment, you will switch between two associated characters – a stealthy shinobi assassin and a samurai, both residing during the latter part of the Sengoku era. This means that the game unfolds in Japan. Interestingly, Japan has decided to impose restrictions on significant aspects of this game.

Here’s what Japan is censoring in Assassin’s Creed Shadows and why.

Censorship Through CERO

In most cases, the game Assassin’s Creed portrays violence since you’re playing as an assassin. As a result, it often receives a rating of 18+; in Japan, this is denoted as “CERO Z”, with CERO being the organization that handles video game age ratings in Japan.

Nevertheless, even with the existing mature rating, CERO intends to tighten the censorship even more. In most regions where the game is released, it’s possible to enable or disable dismemberment features within the settings. However, CERO has announced its intention to eliminate dismemberment entirely in their version of the game.

However, it doesn’t just stop at censorship of certain content, as other injuries are also intended to be visually adjusted within the game. What’s even more peculiar is that the audio will undergo modifications in the Japanese version too. At this point, specifics about what adjustments will be made are scarce – our speculation might involve altered sounds for screams that suggest a limb amputation rather than a swift demise.

More Changes In The Japanese Version

Apart from censorship, another change in Assassin’s Creed Shadows that has been made for the Japanese version is that one of the playable characters, Yasuke, is no longer referred to as a “samurai” on the game’s Steam page. This alteration was implemented following a stir caused by some vocal opponents within the gaming community who are critical of progressive ideologies.

Yasuke is a samurai of African origin, but some conservative elements in Japan have expressed disagreement over using the term “samurai” to describe him. They argue that the authentic historical figure may not have fully met the criteria for being officially recognized as a samurai.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed that although the game still carries a lofty title on the Japanese Steam page, the term “samurai” has been entirely done away with. Instead, it’s been renamed “Ikki Tousen”, which roughly translates to “a warrior who can face a thousand enemies.” This, as per Japanese translators.

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2025-02-04 19:09