Summary
Ubisoft has quietly released a day-one update forAssassin’s Creed Shadowsthat removes the ability to destroy certain objects within shrines and temples. The first update forAssassin’s Creed Shadowsalso makes a handful of other improvements and bug fixes, but its adjustment to shrine destructibility will likely be a big talking point among the community as it has already caused controversy prior to the game’s release.
After multiple delays,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsis finally here. The latest installment in theAssassin’s Creedfranchise takes fans to feudal Japan as both Naoe, an Assassin that has all of the stealthy perks and traits one would expect from anAssassin’s Creedtitle, and Yasuke, a brutal Samurai and powerful warrior capable of taking out multiple enemies with ease. WhileShadowsis now officially in the hands of players around the world, it has been a huge struggle for Ubisoft. The title was initially supposed to launch in November 2024 but was delayed to February 2025 and then once again to March 2025. But it seems to have been worth the wait, asAssassin’s Creed Shadowshas received largely positive reviews.
Ubisoft Quietly Removes Assassin’s Creed Shadows' Shrine Destruction
As of writing,Assassin’s Creed Shadowshasn’t even been available for 24 hours. But that hasn’t stopped Ubisoft from removing some controversial content from the game in a brand-new update. As confirmed byIGN, Ubisoft has quietly released a new patch forAssassin’s Creed Shadowsthat makes tables and racks in temples/shrines indestructible, among a handful of other things. According to the patch notes given to IGN, Ubisoft has also made numerous other improvements in the game’s first update, such as a fix for players getting stuck inside moveable objects after dodging forward. However, the removal of destructible objects inAssassin’s Creed Shadows’shrinesis likely to reignite controversy from earlier in the year.
Back in February, a whole month before the game’s release,Assassin’s Creed Shadowssparked controversyonce again after a clip of Yasuke destroying a shrine went viral on Twitter. Some argued that the ability to destroy shrines in-game showed blatant disrespect to Japanese culture, while others believed that it reflected more on the individual controlling the in-game actions than Ubisoft. The debate divided the community; sadly, it hasn’t been the only controversy surrounding the title. The character of Yasuke has also been a topic of discussion since the game’s announcement, with his status as a Samurai being contested.
The game’s shrine destruction has become such a hot topic among the community that Japan’s prime minister recently commented on it. When asked ifAssassin’s Creed Shadows' depiction of shrine destructioncould lead to real-life acts of vandalism and destruction, Japan’s Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, said that respecting the culture and religion of a country is “fundamental.” The Prime Minister went on to say, “We must make it clear that we will not simply accept acts that disregard them.”
This update brings various improvements and fixes, including:
