Ubisoft can’t seem to catch a break these days. Just when Assassin’s Creed Shadows was approaching its March 20, 2025 release, the company found itself in yet another controversy – once again in Japan, where the game is being censored to comply with the country’s strict rating board, CERO.
Despite Ubisoft’s promotional efforts, the game has faced very heavy criticism (and that’s an understatement) from both Western media and Japanese audiences, particularly over its portrayal of Yasuke and historical accuracy concerns. Now, with censorship changes being imposed, the game is facing even more scrutiny before launch.
According to Ubisoft, the Japanese version of Assassin’s Creed Shadows will remove some of its more graphic content, including dismemberment. While other regions will have a toggle in the settings for those who want to turn it off, Japanese players won’t have that choice – it’s being outright disabled. Ubisoft is also altering how severed limbs and body parts are depicted and even changing some of the in-game Japanese dialogue.
『アサシン クリード シャドウズ』海外版（北米・欧州）と日本版 表現差異について#AssassinsCreedShadows pic.twitter.com/v3XrcppwMf
— Ubisoft Japan (@UBISOFT_JAPAN) January 24, 2025
For a bit of context, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has already earned a CERO Z rating in Japan, meaning it’s restricted to players 18 and older. That’s the highest rating the board gives out, but apparently, even that wasn’t enough to keep the game intact.
Okay, so why does this matter? After all, this isn’t the first time Assassin’s Creed Shadows has dealt with controversy, and sure, regional censorship isn’t new in Japan. Well, you see, the timing of it all couldn’t be worse for Ubisoft, a company that’s been on shaky ground for a while now. Assassin’s Creed Shadows has already faced multiple delays, which is never a great sign, and now the game is making headlines for reasons that have nothing to do with the actual gameplay. Not exactly the kind of buzz you want in the months leading up to release.
Ubisoft’s Bigger Problem
If the Japan censorship debacle were just an isolated incident, it would be one thing. But it’s happening against the backdrop of a company that’s been struggling to find its footing in recent years. Case in point: Ubisoft just announced that it’s shutting down its Leamington, UK studio and laying off employees at three other locations. In total, 185 workers are losing their jobs, as reported by Eurogamer.
Ubisoft Leamington, in particular, has a history of working on major titles. The team contributed to Far Cry 5, which I quite enjoyed playing, and The Division. The studio was also involved with Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft’s big open-world Star Wars project. But Outlaws, much like Assassins Creed Shadows, was involved in a lot of controversy leading up to its release and didn’t perform as expected – which is crazy when you consider that this is an open-world game set in the Star Wars universe! Outlaws should’ve been an easy hit among fans, including myself, but before I go on a tangent about the current state of Star Wars, let’s return to the topic at hand.
The layoffs extend beyond Leamington. Ubisoft Düsseldorf, Ubisoft Stockholm, and Ubisoft Reflections are also seeing job cuts as part of what the company calls an effort to “prioritize projects and reduce costs.” Let me fill you in – that’s corporate speak for “we’re struggling, and people are paying the price for it.” Ubisoft insists these moves will help the company in the long run, but let’s be honest here – when a major publisher starts shutting down studios and slashing jobs, it rarely stops at one round of layoffs.
A Murky Future for Ubisoft
Everything right now hinges on Assassin’s Creed Shadows. If the game does well, it could buy Ubisoft some time and help restore some confidence in the company. But if it flops – or even just performs below expectations – it could be the latest in a growing list of Ubisoft missteps.
At the end of the day, Ubisoft isn’t going anywhere. It’s still one of the biggest names in gaming, and Assassin’s Creed is a flagship franchise. But when you look at the studio closures, the layoffs, the struggles with past releases, and now the censorship controversy in Japan, man Ubisoft is in a really rough spot right now. They need a win, a big one, and they need it soon. Otherwise, we might be looking at an even more drastic shake-up in the near future.
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