Japan’s Concerns Prompt Ubisoft to Release Day-One Patch for Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Ubisoft has quietly rolled out a day-one update for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, introducing several critical fixes and changes that were not highlighted in any official public statement. IGN confirmed the news with Ubisoft, which provided patch notes indicating adjustments to temples, shrines, and more.

Day-One Patch Notes

Below are the main improvements included in the update:

• Fixed an issue where players could become trapped inside movable objects after dodging forward and interacting with them in kofuns.
• Corrected a bug causing procedural weapons to be removed unintentionally when selling items.
• Implemented measures to stop players from moving out of bounds when proning near certain objects.
• Enhanced horse navigation to lessen problems with turning and avoid blocked paths.
• Updated lighting for caves, kofuns, and entrances/exits of various architectural structures.
• Addressed cloth clipping on Yasuke’s outfits (when riding) and Naoe’s outfits (while crouching).
• Prevented citizens without weapons from bleeding when attacked, reducing unintended blood spills in temples and shrines.
• Made tables and racks in temples and shrines indestructible, though certain generic objects like drums or bowls can still be broken. (Tables remain dynamic objects that can be moved or pushed.)

The standout change is that tables and racks within temples and shrines are now indestructible—an apparent response to concerns in Japan about damaging sacred items. Also notable is the tweak that citizens who lack weapons will no longer bleed if attacked inside these locations.

Ubisoft clarified to IGN that this update is available globally and is not specific to Japan. Still, the timing suggests it might be a direct reaction to the controversy brewing in the country.

Political Concerns in Japan

On March 19, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba addressed Assassin’s Creed Shadows during an official government conference. Hiroyuki Kada, a member of the House of Councillors and a local politician up for re-election, raised concerns:

“I fear that allowing players to attack and destroy real-world locations in the game without permission could encourage similar behavior in real life. Shrine officials and local residents are also worried about this. Of course, freedom of expression must be respected, but acts that demean local cultures should be avoided.”

Prime Minister Ishiba responded by emphasizing respect for cultural and religious sites, referencing the need to consult multiple government ministries on any legal approaches. He compared the issue to instances when the Self-Defense Forces needed to study local customs abroad, stressing that defacement of sacred places would be “an insult to the nation itself.”

Kada specifically mentioned Itatehyozu Shrine in Himeji, located in his constituency, stating that Ubisoft had not requested permission to feature or name the shrine in the game. Masaki Ogushi, Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, indicated that government agencies would step in “if the shrine seeks consultation,” but otherwise seemed to suggest limited government action.

Ubisoft’s Proactive Move

Although it is unclear whether any legal or political measures will follow, Ubisoft’s day-one patch appears to address the very issues that worried Japanese officials and local shrine representatives. By making shrine-related objects indestructible and reducing on-screen violence toward non-combatants, the update aims to respect cultural sensitivities while retaining the game’s artistic freedom.

Regardless of how Assassin’s Creed Shadows is received in Japan, there is significant global pressure on Ubisoft to ensure this title performs well—especially after recent setbacks like the sales failure of Star Wars Outlaws, multiple game delays, and studio restructuring. Time will tell if these changes help smooth over controversy and ultimately boost the game’s worldwide success.