Assassin’s Creed Shadow's Black Samurai Controversy
Controversy Surrounding Assassin's Creed Shadows' Black Samurai Character Sparks Online Battle
On May 16, the unveiling of the upcoming game Assassin’s Creed Shadows, featuring the Black samurai Yasuke, caused a commotion online. While some welcomed the reveal, a vocal minority raised objections to a Black protagonist. The ensuing comments ranged from critical to derogatory, underscoring a resistance to diversity in the gaming community.
The backlash also extended to Sweet Baby, a consultancy falsely accused of promoting diversity in games with the backing of BlackRock, resulting in unwarranted harassment. This incident is emblematic of the broader cultural tensions within the gaming world, exemplified by the emergence of Gamergate 2.0, a movement targeting diversity in gaming and echoing the sentiments of the original Gamergate campaign against feminist voices in the industry.
Ubisoft has responded by emphasizing that Assassin's Creed games are fictional narratives inspired by real events, not precise historical accounts. The development team worked with historians and consulted with their Japanese branch to ensure that the portrayal of Yasuke was handled thoughtfully. Still, the developers acknowledged that some marketing missteps caused concern among Japanese fans and apologized for any offense caused.
On a broader scale, this incident highlights ongoing tensions in the gaming industry, where diversity and representation can provoke strong reactions. Sweet Baby Inc., a consultancy focused on helping studios improve diversity, became a target of harassment due to unfounded claims of their involvement in the game, illustrating how cultural wars have intensified in the gaming world. This is often compared to the resurgence of Gamergate-like sentiments, with some players opposing perceived diversity initiatives in gaming.
Key Takeaways
- Assassin's Creed Shadows introduction of Black samurai Yasuke triggers polarized responses.
- Online backlash encompasses racist and sexist remarks, labeling the game a "DEI game."
- Debates arise regarding Yasuke's historical accuracy despite prior media representations.
- Gamergate 2.0 emerges, showcasing opposition to diversity in gaming, beyond feminist advocacy.
- Sweet Baby, a gaming consultancy, faces baseless allegations and subsequent harassment over diversity initiatives.
Analysis
The integration of Yasuke in Assassin’s Creed Shadows has become a focal point in an overarching cultural conflict, reflecting deeper challenges in the gaming sphere. This clash is driven by discord over the representation of diverse characters and historical accuracy, propagating through the lens of online extremism. The resurgence of Gamergate, through the iteration of Gamergate 2.0, exacerbates these tensions, ensnaring entities like Sweet Baby in unwarranted controversy. The immediate repercussions encompass reputational harm and aggravated community polarization. Long-term implications may encompass the formulation of more comprehensive industry regulations pertaining to representation, potentially reshaping the ethos of gaming and influencing investment decisions within the entertainment sector.
Did You Know?
- Assassin's Creed Shadows:
- Context: "Assassin's Creed Shadows" is an upcoming addition to Ubisoft's renowned "Assassin's Creed" video game series, known for its historical contexts and action-adventure gameplay. Yasuke, the first and sole documented African samurai in feudal Japan, features prominently in this new release. The character's inclusion has elicited both enthusiasm for diverse representation and criticism over the perceived imposition of diversity in the game's narrative.
- Gamergate 2.0:
- Context: "Gamergate 2.0" signifies a resurgence of the contentious themes and disputes characterizing the original Gamergate movement of 2014. Initially centered on sexism and misogyny in the gaming industry, Gamergate entailed an extensive online harassment campaign targeting women in gaming. The resurgence, denoted as "Gamergate 2.0," indicates a continuation of these themes, encompassing resistance to diversity and inclusivity efforts in gaming, notably the depiction of characters like Yasuke in "Assassin's Creed Shadows."
- Sweet Baby (Consultancy):
- Context: "Sweet Baby" is a modest consultancy specializing in advising on game characters and storylines. Amid the controversy surrounding "Assassin's Creed Shadows," the consultancy was erroneously implicated in a false narrative of receiving financial support from BlackRock, a global investment management corporation, to advocate for diversity in gaming. This misrepresentation led to unwarranted harassment, spotlighting the challenges encountered by organizations and individuals championing diversity and inclusivity in the gaming sector.