Amid Japan Concern About Assassin's Creed Shadows, Ubisoft Confirms Day-One Patch That Makes Tables and Racks in Temples and Shrines Indestructible

Ubisoft has quietly released a day-one patch for Assassin's Creed Shadows, addressing several key issues, including concerns raised about the depiction of temples and shrines. IGN obtained the unannounced patch notes directly from Ubisoft.

Assassin's Creed Shadows Day-One Patch Notes:

This update includes various improvements and fixes:

• Players will no longer get stuck inside movable objects after dodging and interacting with them in kofuns.
• Fixes a bug where procedurally generated weapons were incorrectly removed when selling items.
• Improvements prevent players from going out of bounds while proning against objects.
• Horse navigation has been improved, reducing issues with turning and blocked paths.
• Lighting adjustments have been made for caves, kofuns, and architectural entrances/exits.
• Fixes cloth clipping issues on Yasuke's outfits (while riding) and Naoe's outfits (while crouching).
• Unarmed citizens will no longer bleed when attacked, reducing unintended blood splatter in temples and shrines.
• Tables and racks within temples and shrines are now indestructible. (Note: Some smaller objects like drums or bowls remain breakable.) Tables retain their dynamic properties; players can still move or push them.

A significant change is the indestructibility of tables and racks in temples and shrines. While Ubisoft states the patch applies to all players, not just those in Japan, this specific alteration seems directly responsive to recent controversy.

On March 19th, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba addressed concerns about Assassin's Creed Shadows during a government conference. Responding to a question from Hiroyuki Kada, a Japanese politician, Prime Minister Ishiba noted the importance of respecting local cultures and religions, stating that defacing a shrine is unacceptable. He indicated that the government would discuss legal avenues to address such concerns.

The shrine depicted in pre-release gameplay footage is Itatehyozu Shrine in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture. Mr. Kada confirmed that Ubisoft did not seek permission to use the shrine's likeness or name in the game. While government responses were somewhat vague, Ubisoft's proactive patching suggests a willingness to address these concerns.

The patch is not yet live in-game, according to IGN's testing. Assassin's Creed Shadows faces significant pressure to perform well globally for Ubisoft, following delays and the underperformance of Star Wars Outlaws and other recent projects. IGN's review awarded the game an 8/10, praising its refined open-world gameplay.