Update 18/03: A Ubisoft spokesperson provided a statement on the matter, which has been added to our piece. A previous version of this article also claimed that Ubisoft was collaborating with the Communication Security Establishment in Canada, but Ubisoft says it is instead working with the Comité Social et Économique in France.
Summary
It’s hard to imagine that morale has been great atUbisoftsinceAssassin’s Creed Shadows' reveal. The first trailer wasreleased last Spring, and since then, the game has been hit with delays, and the studio has faced layoffs. But of course, the main story surrounding Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the backlash, as the anti-woke/DEI/whatever it’s called now movementmade the game its latest target.
This was all because ofYasuke, one of the game’s protagonists. While critics say that they take issue with Shadows referring to Yasuke as a samurai, it doesn’t take a lot of looking to find violently racist imagery and language being used towards the game and its depiction of its Black protagonist. The backlash was intense, withElon Musk joining in on the hate.
Now, it seems that Ubisoft it prepare for this to get even worse at launch. As reported byTech & Co(spotted byResetErauser Arubedo), Ubisoft is said to have implemented a plan to protect its devs as we approach Shadows' launch. This reportedly includes offering “psychological and legal support”, and is part of an initiative against online abuse.
Ubisoft Is Prepared For Assassin’s Creed Shadows Backlash Turning Into Abuse, Per Report
Unfortunately, this is something companies have to account for now
Of course, the attacks have been going on for some months now. “We’re advised not to post on social media that we work at Ubisoft to avoid harassment,” says one Ubisoft worker quoted in the report (translated from French).
As part of this, Ubisoft is said to have drafted up a plan to combat harassment. “It’s an initiative from Canada. There’s a team that monitors networks and acts quickly in the event of a targeted attack,” another source is quoted. “Unlike what we’ve had before, this is serious.”
In response to TheGamer, Ubisoft confirmed that is working with a committee of employees in France called Comité Social et Économique, or the CSE. A spokesperson provided the following statement.
“Our stance has always been that team members’ social media channels are their own,” the statement reads. “Our top priority is the safety of our employees, including online, which is why, as a standard practice across Ubisoft, we offer guidance on navigating social media, digital safety, and support for team members’ well-being. We also share resources to help prevent and protect against online harassment, something our teams have unfortunately faced.”
Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches on March 20. We’ll have to wait and see where it lands with fans and critics.
