Assassin’s Creed Shadows is making waves again, but not for the reasons many fans might expect. Ubisoft has confirmed that the game will undergo censorship in its Japanese release, a decision that has sparked quite a bit of conversation among gamers.
The announcement came through a recent post on Ubisoft’s official Japanese X account. The publisher stated that portions of graphic content would be removed from the local version despite the game receiving a ‘Z’ rating from CERO (Computer Entertainment Rating Organization). This rating signifies strong adult material, making selling to anyone under 18 years old illegal.
Interestingly, even with this Z rating, CERO determined that some gore elements in Assassin’s Creed Shadows are too extreme. As a result, Ubisoft was compelled to modify the content significantly. According to their statement: “The option to switch dismemberment on and off has been removed from the game settings, and now dismembering the heads and limbs of enemies while playing is permanently disabled.” Additionally, they have altered how severed body parts are depicted within the game.
『アサシン クリード シャドウズ』海外版（北米・欧州）と日本版 表現差異について#AssassinsCreedShadows pic.twitter.com/v3XrcppwMf
— Ubisoft Japan (@UBISOFT_JAPAN) January 24, 2025
In addition to these changes, Ubisoft mentioned that some dialogue intended for audiences in North America and Europe would also see alterations for its Japanese counterpart. However, specific details about those modifications remain undisclosed.
CERO’s decisions regarding video game censorship have stirred up controversy before. For instance, last year, EA Japan’s general manager Shaun Noguchi voiced concerns over what he perceived as inconsistencies in how CERO rated games. He pointed out discrepancies between ratings given to titles like Dead Space, which received no rating due to graphic content. At the same time, Stellar Blade was passed with a CERO D rating despite displaying similar levels of violence.
Noguchi shared screenshots from both games demonstrating visible gore and questioned how one could get a pass while another didn’t: “CERO said that our Dead Space was no good because internal organs were visible,” he remarked. It certainly raises eyebrows when comparing such ratings!
This situation highlights ongoing debates around censorship within gaming communities. How do you feel about these changes? Do they affect your anticipation for Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
