Ubisoft Confirms Day-One Patch for Assassin's Creed Shadows Amid Japan Concerns

IGN has confirmed that Ubisoft has quietly prepared a day-one patch for Assassin’s Creed Shadows that introduces several significant changes, particularly to temples and shrines. Ubisoft shared the patch notes with IGN, noting that these details were not part of any public announcement.

Here are the detailed patch notes for Assassin’s Creed Shadows:

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Day-One Patch Notes:

This update brings various improvements and fixes, including:

• Players no longer getting stuck inside movable objects after dodging forward and interacting with them in kofuns
• Fix for procedural weapons being removed incorrectly when selling items
• Adjustments to prevent players from going out of bounds when proning against objects
• Improved horse navigation, reducing issues with turning and blocked paths
• Lighting adjustments for cave, kofun, and architectural entrances/exits
• Fixes for cloth clipping on Yasuke’s outfits (while riding) and Naoe’s outfits (while crouching)
• Citizens without weapons no longer bleed when attacked, reducing unintended blood spill in temples/shrines
• Tables and racks in temples/shrines are now indestructible (Some objects like drums or bowls can still be broken as they are generic ones present everywhere in the world) (Tables are still dynamic objects, so players can still move/push them).

The most notable change is to tables and racks in temples and shrines, which are now indestructible in the game set in Feudal Japan. Ubisoft confirmed to IGN that this day-one patch applies to all players globally, though it seems to address concerns raised specifically in Japan.

On March 19, during an official government conference meeting, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba responded to a question about Assassin’s Creed Shadows raised by Hiroyuki Kada, a member of the House of Councillors of Japan and a candidate for re-election this summer. Kada expressed 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:

“How to address this legally is something we need to discuss with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Defacing a shrine is out of the question - it is an insult to the nation itself. When the Self-Defense Forces were deployed to Samawah, Iraq, we ensured they studied Islamic customs beforehand. Respecting the culture and religion of a country is fundamental, and we must make it clear that we will not simply accept acts that disregard them.”

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The shrine in question, Itatehyozu Shrine in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, which falls within Kada’s constituency, was depicted in pre-release gameplay videos of Assassin's Creed Shadows. Kada mentioned consulting with shrine representatives who confirmed that Ubisoft did not seek their permission to feature the shrine in the game.

Masaki Ogushi, Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, indicated that government agencies would coordinate if the shrine sought further consultation. However, under the Constitution of Japan, Ubisoft's use of the shrine in a work of artistic expression would likely be legally permissible.

The responses from the ministers were somewhat ambiguous and unlikely to lead to specific actions, especially since Ubisoft seems to have preemptively addressed these issues with the day-one patch. As of IGN’s latest tests, the patch is not yet live in-game.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows faces significant pressure to succeed globally for Ubisoft, following delays and the commercial underperformance of last year’s Star Wars Outlaws. Ubisoft has faced several challenges recently, including high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations leading up to the release of Assassin's Creed Shadows.

IGN's review of Assassin’s Creed Shadows awarded it an 8/10, stating: “By sharpening the edges of its existing systems, Assassin’s Creed Shadows creates one of the best versions of the open-world style it’s been honing for the last decade.”