Assassin's Creed Shadows Gets Censored in Japan

Assassin's Creed Shadows (AC Shadows) faces content alterations for its Japanese release, receiving a CERO Z rating. This necessitates the removal of dismemberment and decapitation, along with adjustments to wound depictions. Audio modifications are also planned, though specifics remain undisclosed. The international versions will offer players the option to toggle dismemberment and decapitation.

CERO Z Rating and Content Restrictions

The CERO Z rating restricts sales to individuals 18 and older. CERO's rating system considers factors including violence, sexual content, antisocial behavior, and language. While excessive violence is cited, the exact reasons for the Z rating aren't fully detailed. This isn't unprecedented for the Assassin's Creed franchise; previous installments like Valhalla and Origins also received CERO Z ratings. CERO's stringent approach to gore and dismemberment has led to past conflicts, with some games, such as The Callisto Protocol, forgoing a Japanese release entirely due to required modifications deemed unacceptable by developers. The Dead Space Remake faced similar challenges in 2023.

Yasuke's Description Altered

The game's description of Yasuke, a key protagonist, has undergone changes on Steam and PlayStation stores' Japanese language pages. The term "samurai" has been replaced with "Ikki tousen" ("a warrior who can face a thousand enemies"). This follows earlier criticism regarding the use of "black samurai" in promotional materials, a historically sensitive term. Ubisoft's CEO, Yves Guillemot, previously stated the company's focus on entertainment for a broad audience, not the promotion of specific agendas. The use of historical figures in Assassin's Creed games, such as the Pope or Queen Victoria, is not a new practice for the developers.

Assassin's Creed Shadows launches March 20, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Further details are available on the official Assassin's Creed Shadows webpage.