The team behind the upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows, set in feudal Japan, published a statement on Thursday addressed to its "esteemed Japanese community," responding to "some criticism including from you, our Japanese players." Though the message is purportedly directed at Japanese players, it's only served to embolden criticism from a reactionary contingent of western players shouting about the notion that diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are ruining games. In this case the target is Yasuke, a Black historical figure who serves as one of Shadows' two playable characters.
Ubisoft's message states that the development team is dedicated to "ensuring an immersive and respectful representation of Feudal Japan," even though the Assassin's Creed games are not "factual representations of history, or historical characters." (My Italian history is spotty, but I don't think the real life Leonardo da Vinci actually built a flying machine capable of sending an assassin soaring over the rooftops of Venice.)
