Update July 12th 7:56AM: The group whose flag was featured in Assassin's Creed Shadows' concept art has called for Ubisoft to remove the flag from the game's Collector's Edition artbook.
In a post on X (for which we're using machine translation), the Sekigahara Teppo-tai, or Rifle Corps, has asked Ubisoft to take concept art images that use its flag without permission out of the book.
The person behind the post admits that they are "not sure if this is possible", but that they've contacted the studio to request the image's removal regardless. Original story follows below.
Original story: Ubisoft has apologized for an element found in some of its Assassin's Creed Shadows concept art that has been found to infringe a Japanese re-enactment group's flag.
The company's apology comes via its Japanese branch (with additional reporting by Siliconera). In the apology, for which we're using machine translation, Ubisoft says two pieces of Shadows concept art use the flag design of the Sekigahara Rifle Corps, a war re-enactment group.
According to the studio, it contacted the Rifle Corps to apologize. The flag in question will no longer appear in Assassin's Creed Shadows' concept art, although it will remain in art that has been printed as part of the physical book included with the game's collector's edition.
In its own post on X (formerly Twitter), for which we're once again using machine translation, the Rifle Corps confirms that it received an apology from Ubisoft and that the concept art in question has been deleted.
Still, if you're buying the Assassin's Creed Shadows collector's edition, you'll probably be able to spot the offending flag. After all, it's not really possible to remove art from a physical book without a full recall, which Ubisoft clearly isn't willing or able to do.
Assassin's Creed Shadows is the latest game in the long-running Assassin's Creed series. Due to launch in November, it continues the RPG-heavy style of more recent entries like Odyssey and Valhalla, eschewing the back-to-basics approach of Mirage.
The game will feature two playable protagonists: real-life historical figure Yasuke, the first real person to be playable in Assassin's Creed, and fictional Japanese shinobi Naoe.
Since the game's announcement, Assassin's Creed Shadows has been the subject of controversy regarding perceived historical inaccuracies, as well as the inclusion of real-life African samurai Yasuke as a main character.
This outrage has culminated in a Change.org petition (for which we're using machine translation) started by an individual known as Shimizu Toru, who criticizes the game over the aforementioned historical inaccuracies and suggests the game may be "linked to Asian racism".
Assassin's Creed Shadows launches on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on November 15th.
