As Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches on Thursday, developer Ubisoft snuck in a last-minute patch that makes several adjustments to the games’ temples and shrines. The launch comes just a day after Japanese politician Hiroyuki Kada brought concerns to prime minister Shigeru Ishiba during a government meeting, according to IGN. (A Ubisoft representative told Polygon the patch was “deployed last week on PC and consoles for all players.”)
Kada’s concerns, per IGN’s translation, are centered on how in-game acts could inspire violence towards shrines in real-life. “Of course, freedom of expression must be respected, but acts that demean local cultures should be avoided,” he said. Ishiba responded that it’s something to discuss with Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — but that the defacement of actual Japanese shrines would not be tolerated.
Ubisoft’s day-one patch seemingly addresses these concerns, making tables and racks in shrines and temples “indestructible,” according to the patch notes. More generic objects seen elsewhere in the world, like bowls, can still be broken. Tables, too, remain “dynamic” objects that can be pushed around and moves, so it’s possible you can knock stuff around by accident. A Ubisoft representative declined to comment on the reasoning for these changes.
Elsewhere, characters without weapons won’t bleed when attacked, “reducing unintended blood spill in temples/shrines.”
Here’s are the highlights of the patch from Ubisoft:
Ubisoft told IGN the patch has been applied globally, not just for players in Japan.
Update: This story has been updated to include information from Ubisoft.
