Assassin's Creed Shadows Gets Censored in Japan

Discover how the highly anticipated game, Assassin’s Creed Shadows (AC Shadows), navigates the complexities of content ratings in Japan, resulting in significant changes for its local release. Learn more about the impact on the game's content and how it differs from the versions available overseas.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Receives CERO Z Game Rating In Japan

Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Japanese Version Removes Dismemberment And Decapitation

Ubisoft Japan recently shared on social media that Assassin’s Creed Shadows has been awarded a CERO Z rating by Japan’s Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO). This rating necessitates alterations to the game's content for its Japanese audience, distinguishing it from the versions released in North America and Europe.

In the Japanese version of AC Shadows, scenes involving dismemberment and decapitation have been entirely removed. Additionally, the portrayal of wounds and severed body parts has been modified. There are also unspecified changes to the Japanese audio in the overseas version of the game.

On the other hand, the overseas editions of AC Shadows offer players the option to toggle the graphic depictions of dismemberment and decapitation through the in-game settings menu.

Assassin’s Creed Rated CERO Z In Japan, Only Suitable For 18+ Ages

A CERO Z rating indicates that Assassin’s Creed Shadows is suitable only for individuals aged 18 and above, restricting sales and distribution to those under 18. CERO assesses games based on categories such as sex-related content, violence, anti-social acts, and language and ideology expression.

Games that fail to meet CERO’s content guidelines are not rated, requiring developers to make adjustments to comply. While the statement highlights the game's excessive violence, it does not detail other elements that may have contributed to the CERO Z rating.

This is not the first time the Assassin’s Creed series has encountered such ratings challenges in Japan. Previous entries like AC Valhalla and AC Origins also received CERO Z ratings due to their violent themes.

CERO’s strict stance on gore and dismemberment has led to several games opting out of the Japanese market. For instance, The Callisto Protocol and the Dead Space Remake were not released in Japan after failing to secure a CERO rating, as the required modifications were deemed too significant by their developers.

Changes In Yasuke's Description In Game Store Pages

In addition to content modifications, the description of Yasuke, one of AC Shadows' protagonists, has been altered on the game's store pages. On both Steam and the PlayStation Store, when viewed in Japanese, the term "samurai" (侍) used to describe Yasuke has been changed to "Ikki tousen" (騎当千), meaning "a warrior who can face a thousand enemies." This adjustment follows Ubisoft's response to 2024 backlash regarding Yasuke's portrayal as "the black samurai," a contentious point in Japanese historical and cultural discourse.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot emphasized the company's focus on entertainment for a broad audience, stating, "I want to reaffirm that we are an entertainment-first company, creating games for the broadest possible audience, and our goal is not to push any specific agenda." This stance aligns with the series' tradition of incorporating historical figures into its narratives.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is slated for release on March 20, 2025, across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC platforms. For more details on the game, visit our Assassin’s Creed Shadows page.