Assassin's Creed Shadows: Unveiling the Historical Samurai Yasuke and Stealthy Ninja Naoe in Feudal Japan

Kyoto, Japan, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan Japan
Assassin's Creed Shadows is an upcoming installment in the Assassin's Creed series.
Assassin's Creed Shadows will launch on November 15, 2023.
The game features dual protagonists: Naoe, a ninja, and Yasuke, a historical samurai.
The game will feature an expansive map similar to Assassin's Creed Origins and an ally-recruitment system reminiscent of Assassin's Creed III.
Yasuke is a real-life figure who served as a samurai during the Sengoku period in Japan.
Assassin's Creed Shadows: Unveiling the Historical Samurai Yasuke and Stealthy Ninja Naoe in Feudal Japan

Assassin's Creed Shadows, the latest installment in the Assassin's Creed series, is generating significant buzz due to its unique dual protagonists: Naoe, a ninja, and Yasuke, a samurai. Both characters have intriguing backgrounds that add depth to this action-adventure game set in feudal Japan.

Yasuke is a historical figure who arrived in Japan as a bodyguard for Italian Jesuit Alessandro Valignano in 1579. He later served Japanese feudal lord Oda Nobunaga from 1581 to 1582. During this time, Yasuke gained the trust and respect of Nobunaga, who bestowed him with the name Yasuke. However, after Nobunaga's death by seppuku in 1582 following a betrayal by his general Akechi Mitsuhide, Yasuke pledged allegiance to Nobunaga's son and heir, Nobutada.

Naoe is an original character who complements Yasuke's samurai playstyle with her stealth-based approach as a shinobi. Together, they explore the vast map of feudal Japan during the Sengoku period, building a hideout where their friends and allies can help them in their quest for unification.

Assassin's Creed Shadows is scheduled to launch on November 15, 2023. The game will offer an expansive map similar to Assassin's Creed Origins and incorporate an ally-recruitment system reminiscent of Assassin's Creed III. Players can call on their allies for assistance in finding hidden items or completing missions, making the exploration experience more engaging.

Despite some controversy surrounding the representation of Asian characters in video games, it is essential to acknowledge that Yasuke was a real historical figure who served as a samurai during the Sengoku period. His inclusion in Assassin's Creed Shadows adds authenticity and intrigue to the game, showcasing Ubisoft's commitment to historical accuracy and diversity.

Assassin's Creed Shadows pre-orders are now live, with players able to access the game three days earlier if they subscribe to Ubisoft Plus Premium Plan. The game will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC, Mac, and Amazon Luna.


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Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • Are there any potential inaccuracies or misrepresentations of historical figures in the game?

Sources

100%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Assassin's Creed Shadows pre-orders are "looking very strong"

Eurogamer News Site Analysis Report Vikki Blake Saturday, 18 May 2024 17:59
  • Unique Points
    • Assassin's Creed Shadows pre-orders are reportedly strong.
    • Assassin's Creed Shadows features dual protagonists: Naoe, a female shinobi, and Yasuke, a samurai.
    • Naoe and Yasuke are initially adversaries but later find common ground in the game.
    • Assassin's Creed Shadows requires an internet connection for installation but can be played offline afterwards.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

78%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Let’s Not Pretend We’re Mad the New Assassin's Creed Shadows Samurai Isn’t Asian

IGN (Imagine Games Network) Friday, 17 May 2024 14:00
  • Unique Points
    • Yasuke is a historical figure.
    • Yasuke arrived in Japan as a bodyguard for Italian Jesuit Alessandro Valignano in 1579.
    • Yasuke served Japanese feudal lord Oda Nobunaga from 1581 to 1582.
    • Nobunaga performed seppuku after being betrayed by his general, Akechi Mitsuhide, and Yasuke was present during this event.
    • Yasuke pledged allegiance to Nobunaga’s son and heir, Nobutada.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (30%)
    The article contains editorializing and emotional manipulation as the author expresses their frustration and disappointment towards the lack of diversity in Asian representation in games, specifically samurai protagonists. The author also makes assumptions about Western game developers' abilities to create complex characters and tells them to 'dream a little bigger'. These statements are not facts but rather opinions that attempt to manipulate the reader's emotions.
    • I find comments saying that Assassin's Creed Shadows is a missed opportunity to represent even more Asian protagonists embarrassing.
    • 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.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The author commits the fallacy of Hasty Generalization in stating that 'You can’t pretend to want Asian representation by asking for another samurai.' and 'Given the Assassin’s Creed franchise’s history-jumping concept, we could have our cake and eat it too with a little effort. Why settle for another samurai hero when the franchise could easily go to the Mongol Empire, or post-revolution China? Or even the Pacific Theater in World War II, which was a hotbed of counter-imperial espionage led by Asians?' The author is making assumptions based on limited evidence and ignoring exceptions. There are many games that feature Asian protagonists who are not samurai or ninja, but the author fails to acknowledge this.
    • You can’t pretend to want Asian representation by asking for another samurai.
    • Given the Assassin’s Creed franchise’s history-jumping concept, we could have our cake and eat it too with a little effort. Why settle for another samurai hero when the franchise could easily go to the Mongol Empire, or post-revolution China? Or even the Pacific Theater in World War II, which was a hotbed of counter-imperial espionage led by Asians?
  • Bias (80%)
    The author expresses a clear bias towards the lack of diversity in Asian representation in games and specifically calls out Western studios for their simplistic portrayal of Asian characters. The author also expresses a desire for more complex and nuanced stories featuring Asian protagonists.
    • Given the Assassin’s Creed franchise’s history-jumping concept, we could have our cake and eat it too with a little effort. Why settle for another samurai hero when the franchise could easily go to the Mongol Empire, or post-revolution China? Or even the Pacific Theater in World War II, which was a hotbed of counter-imperial espionage led by Asians?
      • 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.
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      99%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      Assassin's Creed Shadows Trailer Reveals Two Protagonists, A Samurai And A Shinobi

      GameSpot Jordan Ramée Sunday, 19 May 2024 17:30
      • Unique Points
        • Assassin's Creed Shadows is scheduled to launch on November 15, 2023.
        • The game will feature two playable protagonists: Yasuke and Naoe.
        • Yasuke is a historical samurai from Japan who arrived in the country as a bodyguard for Italian Jesuit Alessandro Valignano in 1579.
        • Naoe is a shinobi.
      • Accuracy
        No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (95%)
        The article contains some instances of appeals to authority, as the author quotes Ubisoft Quebec's creative director and game director in discussing the features and mechanics of Assassin's Creed Shadows. However, these quotes do not constitute a significant number or impact on the overall content of the article. No formal fallacies or dichotomous depictions were identified.
        • ][Ubisoft Quebec] mentioned that Shadows will incorporate an ally-recruitment system that’s reminiscent of how Connor could meet people and build a thriving homestead in Assassin's Creed III. [[Jonathan Dumont]] "Naoe and Yasuke, they do have allies in the world and they do help people and sometimes they can help them find what they’re looking for and everything is centralized around them building a hideout where their friends and allies can help them—[this] is an integral part of the exploration loop." [[Charles Benoit]] "They are your eyes and ears on the field so if you use them properly, they will help you to find what you’re looking for or what you missed."
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      100%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      Who Is Yasuke, Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Black Samurai Protagonist?

      Kotaku Kenneth Shepard Thursday, 16 May 2024 19:34
      • Unique Points
        • Yasuke is the first African to appear in Japan's historical records.
        • Yasuke arrived in Japan as a bodyguard for Italian Jesuit Alessandro Valignano in 1579.
        • Yasuke served Japanese feudal lord Oda Nobunaga from 1581 to 1582.
        • Nobunaga performed seppuku after being betrayed by his general, Akechi Mitsuhide, and Yasuke was present during this event.
        • The last known record of Yasuke is of him being escorted to a Jesuit mission house by Akechi’s troops.
        • Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows features two playable characters: Naoe, a ninja, and Yasuke, a Samurai based on the historical figure.
      • Accuracy
        No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      100%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      Who is Assassin's Creed Shadows' protagonist Yasuke? The history behind the first Black Samurai explained

      GamesRadar Hirun Cryer Friday, 17 May 2024 14:00
      • Unique Points
        • Yasuke was a real-life Samurai in Japan who served under Oda Nobunaga until his assassination in 1582.
        • Yasuke arrived in Japan in 1579 and was bestowed the name Yasuke by Oda Nobunaga.
        • Yasuke was effectively Nobunaga’s Retainer and was folded into his Kashindan, making him a Samurai.
        • Nobunaga became fascinated with Yasuke due to his black skin and demanded he be scrubbed, but Yasuke did not change color.
        • After Nobunaga’s death in 1582, Yasuke pledged allegiance to Nobunaga’s son and heir, Nobutada.
        • Yasuke has a significant pop culture presence in Japan with various adaptations such as the Netflix anime series ‘Yasuke’ and appearances in video games like Nioh and Guilty Gear.
      • Accuracy
        No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication