IGN can confirm Ubisoft has discreetly readied a day-one patch for Assassin's Creed Shadows, implementing crucial adjustments to temples and shrines among other changes.
Ubisoft shared exclusive patch notes with IGN, confirming these details weren't part of any public announcement.
Assassin's Creed Shadows Patch Notes:
The update delivers multiple enhancements:
- Fixed player collision issues when dodging near movable objects in kofuns
- Corrected procedural weapon removal during transactions
- Adjusted mechanics to prevent out-of-bounds exploits while prone
- Refined horse navigation to reduce pathfinding obstacles
- Improved lighting effects for caves, kofuns, and architectural transitions
- Resolved clothing clipping issues for Yasuke (mounted) and Naoe (crouching)
- Non-combatant NPCs no longer exhibit blood effects when struck (reducing unintentional violence in sacred spaces)
- Temple/shrine furniture (tables/racks) are now indestructible (note: some decorative items like drums remain breakable for environmental consistency)
The most notable change involves making shrine furnishings indestructible in this feudal Japan setting. While Ubisoft insists the global patch isn't Japan-specific, this particular adjustment clearly addresses the ongoing controversy in the region.
On March 19, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba addressed parliamentary concerns about Assassin's Creed Shadows during a government conference.
The inquiry came from Hiroyuki Kada, a House of Councillors member facing re-election, who stated:
"Unauthorized virtual destruction of real-world sacred sites could normalize disrespectful behavior. While creative freedom matters, we must prevent cultural insensitivity that distresses shrine custodians and communities."
Prime Minister Ishiba responded:
"We're coordinating with relevant ministries to examine legal parameters. Desecrating shrines constitutes national disrespect - just as our Iraq deployment required cultural sensitivity training. Respect for cultural heritage is non-negotiable."
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The controversy centers on Itatehyozu Shrine in Himeji - located in Kada's constituency and featured in pre-release footage. Shrine representatives confirm Ubisoft never sought permission for its inclusion.
While Vice Minister Masaki Ogushi acknowledged potential interagency cooperation if formally consulted, constitutional protections likely safeguard Ubisoft's creative liberties.
Both responses appear unlikely to prompt immediate action, especially given Ubisoft's proactive patch addressing cultural sensitivities.
IGN testing confirms the update isn't yet live in-game.
Beyond regional concerns, Assassin's Creed Shadows faces immense pressure following Star Wars Outlaws' underperformance and Ubisoft's recent struggles with cancellations, restructuring, and lackluster releases.
IGN's 8/10 review praised the title: "By refining its signature systems, Shadows delivers the franchise's most polished open-world experience in years."
