The Ubisoft Dilemma: Yasuke, a black Samurai, in Assassin’s Creed, turned Gay by Choice Romance Quests
Assassin’s Creed, the open world video game franchise, since November 13th, 2007, produced by Ubisoft, that started its own brand of parkour wall jumping techniques and fast paced free flowing combat, taking us along through so many characters such as Ezio, Altair, Desmond, Edward Kenway, but also meeting and killing many famous people, including the Borgias, Shia Muslims, and Templars, were the early days of a series that had such a promise.
The tragedy is not that the original creator, Patrice Dèsilets, didn’t see this coming, but he didn’t fight hard enough to keep the integrity of the series alive, or reigned in. But nobody really has creative control over their games in the video game industry.
Yasuke, a playable main character, a black Samurai, is the star of Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, taking place during the Sengoku[1] era, where the country was at war with itself. Many people died, but not that many can be tallied as a result, due to old records being destroyed or time. But Yasuke does exist. According to Smithsonian.com, “Yasuke was an African warrior in the employ of Nobunaga, a powerful feudal lord known as the “Great Unifier,” during Japan’s Sengoku period. The first Black samurai, he was at Nobunaga’s side when the daimyo died; according to popular lore, Nobunaga tasked Yasuke with returning his head to his son.”[2] All of this isn’t the problem. But more historical context is needed.
The Sengoku era started at Kyōtoku, the Kanto Region, in 1454, the Onin War in 1467, and Meiō War in 1493, could all be possible entry points to the Assassin’s Creed series, as well. Largely, the series should be about Japanese people, and their inner conflicts during the Sengoku period. Fans did want a game set in Feudal Japan, but with Assassin’s Creed becoming ridiculous in setting and scope, and popularity over the years, it’s hard to take Ubisoft seriously at some point.
But Ubisoft’s recent trilogy of video games—Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla—all offer romance quests, as it depends on whether you pursue male or female options. Noted that it’s all optional. The consensus isn’t that fans should be offended, as it’s any sane thinkers job to know that Yasuke wasn’t gay. But since this is an Assassin’s Creed game, and not a historical epic, in the traditional sense, none of this bears any reality except to the gamers who have played the first game since 2007. And probably have more brain cells than their sons and daughters do, or the usual gamer who isn’t interested in the historical reality around Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024).
Romance quests are part of video games, and it’s entirely optional. And it’s up to the player to pursue such Romance Quests. But this is providing one clear point: Ubisoft doesn’t care about history, as it’s their job to entertain and also provide some historical context. Notice the word some. It’s a video game first, but there’s no real evidence to prove that Yasuke was gay, either.
The final point remains: You shouldn’t be going to Ubisoft for historical accuracy. But it doesn’t mean you should buy the game, either, if you so decline their message. If you want to play the game, fine, but it is my job to tell you that Assassin’s Creed isn’t interested in historical accuracy. This article has more history regarding the Sengoku period than Assassin’s Creed Shadows will.
And I’m not covering for them. A final grudge that any thinking person should be rightly pissed about: Ubisoft’s actions are deliberately depriving a real Japanese man his right, or accurately, his chance, to star in an Assassin’s Creed game as the main character. So, the Asian’s deserve to be pissed at Ubisoft.
So unfortunately, nobody, not even the fanbase, should be happy. Assassin’s Creed, very much like Altair, and all the characters you meet in the series, are long dead, and so is the franchise. There will be some suckers who buy the game, but suckers are born every day. Just don’t be one of them.
[1] It’s literal meaning is “warring states” https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sengoku-period.
[2] https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/who-was-yasuke-japans-first-black-samurai-180981416/.
-Louis Bruno is the author of more than 21 books, including, The Michael Project, The Michael Project: Book 2: The Lost Children of Eve, Thy Kingdom Come, The Disintegrating Bloodline Part 2: Chaos, The Data Chase, The Disintegrating Bloodline part 3: Solvè, The Disintegrating Bloodline (and the original text re-released in 2019), Apocalypse Soldier, The Data Chase, Selection: The First Book of the Life and Death Saga, and Blinking Eyes: The Second Book of the Life and Death Saga, Hierarchy of Dwindling Sheep, The City of Sand, The God of Curiosity, To the Moon and Back, The Villain Lives and The Villain Lives: The Divided Pinpoint, Come Home, Young One, City of Sand: Book 1: The Holy Terror, and The Voices Are Alive, and The City of Sand: Book 2: Jerusalem Ignited. He has a Bachelor of Arts in English from University of Phoenix. His books can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Lulu. He can be found on Gab, https://gab.com/thereallouistbruno, Minds https://www.minds.com/lbruno8063/. Instagram @lbrruno8063 and @louisbrunoofficialbook. Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouisBr88881650. He has written for the Intellectual Conservative and Ephemere. His newest books, The City of Sand: Book 3: America the Free, is out now.