The ongoing discourse surrounding Assassin’s Creed Shadows has recently gained attention from former Platinum Games employee Hideki Kamiya. The esteemed game director, known for his work on iconic titles such as Devil May Cry and Bayonetta, took to social media to share his feelings about the game’s performance amid its controversial reception.
Defending Assassin’s Creed Shadows Amidst Backlash
Despite facing significant backlash from various stakeholders, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is reportedly thriving in terms of sales and player engagement. Critics, including backlash directed at developer Ubisoft, have centered around the game’s inclusion of a Black samurai and LGBTQ+ romantic options, as well as concerns from some Japanese officials regarding the portrayal of cultural artifacts like shrines.
Kamiya’s initial defense triggered a surge of debate, leading some to accuse him of betraying his own cultural roots. In response to the scrutiny, he provided a post expressing his surprise at the criticism, highlighting that the game has surpassed significant milestones, including reaching over 2 million players.
In a translated statement via Grok, Kamiya shared his enthusiasm about the game’s success:
“I felt bad that it was being criticized so much, but I’m glad that it seems to be doing well in both sales and reviews… Assassin’s Creed: Shadows officially surpasses 2 million players. Steam’s maximum concurrent users also surpass previous titles. In the UK, it has been reported that packaged version sales are the highest this year.”
Online Reactions and Ongoing Controversy
Following his comments, Kamiya faced a torrent of disapproval for seemingly siding with a game perceived to undermine Japanese culture. Some users went as far as labeling him as “traitorous” for his support:
A user challenged Kamiya’s defense of the game, suggesting that Ubisoft’s sales figures could be misleading—pointing out that the reported “2 million players”might rely heavily on their subscription service rather than direct purchases:
“Kamiya-san, such articles are misleading. ‘2 million players’ is not revenue… this is a PR ploy.”
Kamiya’s response was short and dismissive as he declared that he would block users posting negative comments:
Further debates emerged regarding the game’s integration of same-sex romance, with some arguing it disrupts the historical context:
“The game was criticized because it mocked the intelligence and feelings of its fans. It tried to force unnecessary diversity… fans must feel betrayed.”
Amid the criticism, Kamiya chose not to engage with these specific comments, reinforcing his position with a nonchalant approach towards detractors:
Impact on Ubisoft and Future Developments
The intense backlash surrounding Assassin’s Creed Shadows has prompted Ubisoft to implement anti-harassment measures to safeguard its development team from excessive online scrutiny. This move underscores the growing challenges game developers face in responding to fan expectations and cultural sensitivities.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is currently available on multiple platforms, including PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, as it continues to navigate the complex landscape of gamer discourse.