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

Ubisoft 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 various improvements and fixes:

• Resolved an issue where players could get stuck inside movable objects after dodging and interacting within 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).
• Citizens without weapons no longer bleed when attacked, minimizing unintended blood splatter in temples and shrines.
• Tables and racks within temples and shrines are now indestructible. (Note: Some smaller objects like drums or bowls remain breakable as they are generic world objects. Tables remain dynamic and can be moved/pushed.)

A significant change is the indestructibility of tables and racks in temples and shrines. While Ubisoft confirmed the patch applies to all players, not just those in Japan, this specific change appears to directly address recent controversy.

On March 19th, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba responded to a question about Assassin's Creed Shadows during a government meeting. The question, raised by Japanese politician Hiroyuki Kada, expressed concern that the ability to damage virtual representations of real-world locations might encourage similar real-world actions. Kada highlighted worries from shrine officials and residents, emphasizing the need to balance freedom of expression with respect for local cultures. Prime Minister Ishiba indicated a need for inter-ministerial discussion to address the legal aspects, stating that defacing shrines is unacceptable.

The shrine depicted in pre-release gameplay footage is Itatehyozu Shrine in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, located within Kada's constituency. Kada confirmed that Ubisoft did not seek permission to use the shrine's likeness or name. While government responses were generally vague, suggesting limited immediate action, Ubisoft's proactive patch seemingly addresses these concerns.

IGN's testing indicates the patch isn't yet live. Regardless of the game's Japanese reception, Assassin's Creed Shadows faces significant pressure to succeed globally for Ubisoft, following delays and the underperformance of Star Wars Outlaws. Ubisoft has recently experienced several high-profile setbacks, including game cancellations and layoffs.

IGN's review of Assassin's Creed Shadows awarded it an 8/10, praising its refined open-world gameplay.

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