Ubisoft’s July 10 shareholder meeting took an unexpected turn when a passionate investor directly confronted CEO Yves Guillemot about the company’s creative direction—particularly regarding Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The moment, which quickly went viral, wasn’t just about profits—it was about politics, history, and where gaming is headed.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Sparks Heated Debate
At the center of the controversy was Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft’s 2025 blockbuster. The game features Yasuke—a historical African figure in 16th-century Japan—as one of the two main playable protagonists. Players can also romance a transgender character.
The shareholder, visibly frustrated, asked:
“Woke or not? And will Ubisoft continue to stick to this approach?”
Despite Shadows being the third best-selling game of 2025, criticism swirled online, accusing Ubisoft of injecting politics into its stories. Even Elon Musk weighed in, tweeting that “DEI kills art.”
CEO Responds: Storytelling Comes First
CEO Yves Guillemot replied calmly, emphasizing that Ubisoft’s intent is to tell inspiring stories.
“We wanted to showcase characters with heroic journeys… Yasuke is an actual historical figure,” he said, underlining that creativity—not politics—drives development.
But Was Yasuke Real? Let’s Set the Record Straight
Some online claims have recently surfaced alleging that Yasuke is fictional, invented by author Thomas Lockley to sell books. This claim is false.
Here’s what scholars and records confirm:
- Yasuke was a real person, mentioned in multiple 16th-century sources, including Portuguese Jesuit letters and Japanese chronicles like Shinchōkōki.
- Nobunaga gave Yasuke a house and a short sword, suggesting a respected role—possibly close to a retainer or warrior servant.
What’s debated?
- Yasuke’s exact status is unclear. There is no known document officially granting him samurai rank or a Japanese surname, which casts doubt on whether he held formal caste-based warrior status.
- Thomas Lockley, co-author of African Samurai, popularized Yasuke’s legend in the West. But critics argue Lockley filled historical gaps with speculation and narrative flair—not fabrication, but not strict academic rigor either.
So no—Yasuke was not invented. But his “samurai” status is subject to interpretation, and Ubisoft’s choice to elevate him to a playable lead is creative, though loosely grounded in truth.
Game Preservation Also Under Fire
The same investor didn’t stop at Shadows. He raised concerns about Ubisoft delisting The Crew, tying into the growing “Stop Killing Games” movement. Gamers are frustrated that online-only titles become unplayable once servers shut down.
Guillemot responded:
“Support for all games cannot last forever,” but said Ubisoft is exploring solutions like offline modes and clarified they’re actively working on the issue.
