🏮 Japan's AC Shrine Drama

Good morning & Happy Friday!

Here’s everything you need to know this week in the world of gaming.

LATEST NEWS

🤔 Ubisoft is reportedly considering a Tencent-backed future for Assassin’s Creed and more.

🥷 Ubisoft reportedly creates "anti-harassment plan” for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, as game faces backlash.

🇯🇵 Super Smash Bros. creator says instead of making more "Americanized works," Japanese devs should "seek the uniqueness and fun of Japanese games".

😂 The Day Before studio reportedly sues Russian website for calling infamous disaster-game a 'scam'

🃏 Pokémon Centers wage war on TCG scalpers by removing plastic packaging from new boxes.

😪 Discord heightens ad focus by introducing video ads to mobile apps in June.

🤺 Bethesda May Shadow Drop The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remake in April, Reports Claim.

👽️ Star Wars: Hunters shutdown announced just 9 months after launch.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Causes a Stir in Japan

Assassin’s Creed Shadows debuted this week with a solid 81 on Metacritic, aligning with previous franchise hits like Valhalla (80). While not necessarily a Game of the Year contender, early user scores surpass critics’, with PS5 players rating it 4.79/5 and Xbox Series X/S users around 4.5/5.

However, the game has sparked political debate in Japan. During a government conference on March 19, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba addressed concerns raised by Hiroyuki Kada, a politician up for re-election. Kada criticized the depiction of Itatehyozu Shrine in Himeji, claiming it could inspire real-world vandalism and lacked official approval from local shrine representatives.

While Ishiba acknowledged the concerns, he offered no immediate legal action, deferring to ministries for further discussion. The Vice Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, Masaki Ogushi, stated that government agencies would step in if the shrine sought consultation. However, under Japanese constitutional protections of artistic expression, Ubisoft likely remains in the clear.

Beyond Japan, Assassin’s Creed Shadows carries high stakes for Ubisoft, following delays and the commercial failure of Star Wars Outlaws. With recent studio closures, layoffs, and game cancellations, the publisher is under immense pressure for Shadows to deliver a global hit.

Thanks for reading!

I hope you enjoyed this edition of Level Up. We’re constantly evolving, so if you have feedback, feel free to hit reply and let us know.