Japanese Version of Assassin's Creed Shadows Undergoes Censorship

Assassin's Creed Shadows: Japan's CERO Rating Leads to Content Changes

Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows (AC Shadows) has received a CERO Z rating in Japan, resulting in content alterations for the Japanese release. This rating, reserved for games suitable only for players aged 18 and above, necessitates the removal of dismemberment and decapitation scenes. Depictions of wounds and severed body parts will also be modified. While the Japanese audio may also undergo changes, specifics haven't been detailed.

International versions (North America/Europe) will offer players the option to toggle dismemberment and decapitation via in-game settings.

CERO's stringent guidelines on violence and gore have led to similar issues with past Assassin's Creed titles, as well as other games. The Callisto Protocol and the Dead Space Remake, for example, were not released in Japan due to CERO's requirements.

The Japanese version's description of Yasuke, a key protagonist, has also been altered. The term "samurai" (侍) has been replaced with "騎当千" (Ikki tousen), meaning "a warrior who can face a thousand enemies." This follows criticism in 2024 regarding the use of "black samurai" to describe Yasuke. Ubisoft's CEO, Yves Guillemot, previously stated the company's focus is on entertainment for a broad audience, not pushing specific agendas.

Assassin's Creed Shadows is scheduled for release on March 20, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.