The ever-evolving world of video games is often central to cultural and political debates. The release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows has brought to light an intense skirmish fueled by anti-woke grifters who deftly manufacture outrage. This discontent, centered on the game’s choice to feature a black samurai and a female protagonist, not only highlights the fragility of our cultural conversations but also reveals the deep-seated prejudices that continue to permeate the gaming community
The Spark of Controversy
When Ubisoft announced Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the initial reaction was excitement. Fans had long awaited a setting in feudal Japan, a period rich with historical intrigue and cultural depth.
Controversy quickly overshadowed this excitement. The game’s trailer amassed over 300,000 dislikes on YouTube, with critics zeroing in on the protagonists: a woman and a black man.
The backlash, however, was not driven by any substantive issue with the game itself but rather by a reactionary response fueled by underlying racism and sexism.
Prominent among the detractors were figures like Jeremy from The Quartering, who capitalized on the controversy. Jeremy’s prolific posting—30 times in a single day—illustrates a strategy designed to maximize engagement and ad revenue rather than fostering genuine dialogue. This approach preys on the prejudices of their audience, transforming minor issues into major scandals.
The Role of Ubisoft’s Reputation
A significant factor contributing to the backlash is Ubisoft’s tarnished reputation. The company has faced criticism for recent releases, including Ex Defiant, Star Wars Outlaws, and Skull and Bones. These games have all received lukewarm receptions, signalling a broader dissatisfaction within the gaming community. This context of discontent has primed gamers to be skeptical of any new Ubisoft project.
In his video “Why Are Gamers Upset With Assassin’s Creed Shadows?”, TheActMan provides a comprehensive overview of these issues. He highlights Ubisoft’s problematic practices, from exploitative pricing models to monotonous game design. These legitimate concerns have been conflated with the outrage over the game’s diverse characters, muddying the waters of genuine critique.
Historical Context and Yasuke’s Story
Yasuke, a black samurai featured as one of the game’s protagonists, is central to the controversy. Critics argue that his inclusion attempts to fulfill a diversity agenda, overlooking the historical accuracy of Yasuke’s existence and the Assassin’s Creed series’ tradition of blending history with creative storytelling.
The Kavernacle, a YouTuber with a history degree, argues that criticisms of Yasuke’s inclusion are hypocritical and based on a fetishized view of Japanese culture.
He points out that these critics often lack genuine knowledge of Japan, having never visited or studied the country in depth. Yasuke’s story, far from being a fabrication, is a well-documented part of history that enriches the game’s narrative.
The Kavernacle’s insights underscore the double standards at play. Other Assassin’s Creed games have featured protagonists from diverse backgrounds without facing similar criticism. For instance, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla featured a Norwegian Viking in Anglo-Saxon England without significant backlash over historical inaccuracy. This selective outrage reveals a cultural bias and a resistance to diversity.
The Pattern of Manufactured Outrage
The negative response to Assassin’s Creed Shadows is consistent with a more significant trend in which “woke” content incites indignation from anti-woke grifters. Past events like the opposition to X-Men 97 highlight this cycle, which swiftly subsided as the show proved to be successful.Anti-woke grifters rely on their audience’s biases, creating echo chambers where dissenting opinions are dismissed.
DeadDomain’s video “AC Shadows Shows How Lazy And Embarrassing The Culture War Grifters Are” emphasizes that the outrage over Yasuke is not about historical accuracy but rather a resistance to diversity and representation. These commentators exploit minor controversies to maintain their relevance and revenue streams, perpetuating a cycle of outrage that distracts from meaningful discourse.
Anti-Consumer Practices and Game Design
Ubisoft’s anti-consumer practices, such as taking down online servers for older games, further erode trust in the company. Gamers are justifiably skeptical of investing in Ubisoft products when past purchases can become unplayable. Additionally, the series’ shift towards vast open worlds filled with repetitive tasks has dulled its appeal, contributing to the backlash.
The ActMan points out that earlier Assassin’s Creed games had more engaging and condensed settings, contrasting sharply with the formulaic design of newer titles.
This monotony has led to a decline in enthusiasm for the series, fueling the manufactured controversy’s fire.
The Broader Impact of Manufactured Outrage
The manufactured outrage surrounding Assassin’s Creed Shadows is emblematic of a more significant trend in media consumption and critique. By capitalizing on sensationalism and echo chamber dynamics, anti-woke grifters have managed to shape the discourse in a way that emphasizes controversy over content. This focus detracts from meaningful discussions about media representation and quality, reducing complex narratives to simplistic binaries of “woke” versus “traditional.”
DeadDomain critiques the broader anti-woke ecosystem, noting how figures within this space latch onto any new release with potential for controversy.
This outrage cycle serves as a “meal ticket” for these individuals, enabling them to continuously generate content and revenue by keeping their audience engaged with irrelevant culture war issues.
The Real Cost: Undermining Genuine Critique
This strategy of manufactured outrage has an actual cost. It undermines the possibility of genuine critique and discourse within the gaming community. The space for thoughtful, nuanced analysis shrinks when discussions are dominated by sensationalism and bad-faith arguments.
The ActMan’s analysis of Ubisoft’s practices—exploitative pricing models, anti-consumer behavior, and repetitive game design—highlights legitimate concerns that should be at the forefront of critique. Instead, these issues are overshadowed by manufactured controversies, diverting attention from the substantive problems that affect gamers’ experiences.
Embracing Diversity in Gaming
The backlash against Assassin’s Creed Shadows underscores the need for a more inclusive and thoughtful approach to media critique. Recognizing the tactics of anti-woke grifters is crucial for fostering a healthier discourse. By focusing on genuine concerns—such as game quality, narrative coherence, and consumer practices—gamers can push for improvements that enhance their experiences.
The ActMan’s critique and DeadDomain’s observations remind us that embracing diversity in media is not just about representation but about enriching the narratives we consume. Yasuke’s story, a fascinating chapter in history, adds depth and intrigue to Assassin’s Creed Shadows. It challenges players to engage with a broader spectrum of human experiences, fostering empathy and understanding.
Cultural Gatekeeping and Bias
The Kavernacle’s insights into the broader issue of cultural gatekeeping within the gaming community reveal a more profound resistance to diversity. Conservative gamers often act as gatekeepers, defending a narrow and frequently fetishized view of certain cultures while ignoring their complexities and diversities. This gatekeeping stifles creativity and perpetuates a homogenous and exclusionary cultural landscape.
The resistance to Yasuke’s inclusion in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is emblematic of this gatekeeping. By fixating on perceived historical inaccuracies, critics ignore the series’ long-standing tradition of blending fact with fiction. They also overlook the broader value of diverse representation in media, which can challenge stereotypes and promote a more inclusive cultural narrative.
The Importance of Historical Fiction
Assassin’s Creed has always walked the line between historical fiction and historical accuracy. The series uses natural, historical settings and events as a backdrop for its fictional narratives, allowing players to explore and engage with history uniquely and interactively. This approach has introduced countless players to different cultures and historical periods, fostering a deeper appreciation for the complexities of history.
Yasuke’s inclusion in Assassin’s Creed Shadows fits seamlessly into this tradition. While less well-known, his story is a natural and fascinating part of history. By incorporating Yasuke into the game, Ubisoft enriches the narrative and brings attention to a historical figure who might otherwise be overlooked. This representation can broaden players’ understanding of history and challenge preconceived notions about historical accuracy and diversity.
Moving Beyond Manufactured Outrage
The backlash against Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a microcosm of a larger cultural struggle. It highlights the tension between progress and resistance, between diversity and gatekeeping. To move beyond this manufactured outrage, we must recognize the tactics of those who seek to exploit cultural divisions for personal gain. We must also embrace the value of diverse narratives and the richness they bring to our media landscape.
As gamers and media consumers, we have the power to shape the narrative. We can create a space where meaningful discourse thrives by embracing diversity, pushing for substantive improvements, and rejecting manufactured controversies. In doing so, we honor the rich tapestry of human experience, celebrating stories that connect us across time and culture.
Conclusion: A Call for Thoughtful Engagement
The manufactured outrage over Assassin’s Creed Shadows reveals the vulnerabilities in our cultural conversations. By exploiting prejudices and sensationalizing minor controversies, anti-woke grifters distort the discourse, diverting attention from meaningful critique. Recognizing and rejecting these tactics is essential for fostering a more inclusive and thoughtful media landscape.
As we navigate these cultural battles, we must remain vigilant against those who seek to exploit our divisions. We must also strive to create spaces where diverse voices and narratives can flourish. By doing so, we enrich our media and build a more inclusive and empathetic world. This is the challenge and the opportunity that lies before us. Let us rise to meet it with thoughtfulness, inclusivity, and a commitment to meaningful dialogue.