The world is excited as Assassin’s Creed Shadows prepares to launch this week. However, not all the chatter surrounding this title is positive. Ubisoft has found itself in hot water over historical inaccuracies and criticism from various groups, leading to some serious measures being taken behind the scenes.
Recent reports suggest that Ubisoft is readying an anti-harassment plan to protect its employees from online attacks. Sources close to the situation have indicated that lawyers are on standby to address harassment directed at staff members across social media platforms.
Preparing for Potential Fallout
The backlash against Assassin’s Creed Shadows, particularly concerning Yasuke, the African samurai who serves as one of the game’s protagonists—has been intense. This reaction appears more severe than what previous titles in the franchise have faced, prompting Ubisoft to take proactive steps.
A report from BFMTV revealed insights from unnamed Ubisoft employees about a new initiative designed specifically for monitoring online threats:
“It’s an initiative from Canada. There’s a team that monitors networks and acts quickly in the event of a targeted attack. Unlike what we’ve had before, this is serious.”
“Messages posted by internet users on X, Reddit, or even videos on YouTube will be closely monitored by a dedicated unit in order to respond quickly to the slightest problem.”
Lawyers are already ready to file complaints in case proven harassment occurs.
An additional claim pointed out that Ubisoft has advised employees against mentioning their affiliation with the company online as part of their strategy to mitigate potential harassment risks.
A statement provided to PCGamesN confirmed Ubisoft’s commitment to employee safety without detailing specific plans:
“Our stance has always been that team members’ social media channels are their own. Our top priority is the safety of our employees, including online, which is why we offer guidance on social media use and support for team members’ well-being.”
“We also share resources to help prevent and protect against online harassment, something our teams have unfortunately faced.”
Assassin’s Creed Shadows will officially release worldwide on March 20. I look forward to sharing my full review later today; stay tuned for my impressions!
