Assassin's Creed Shadows: Japan's CERO Rating Leads to Censorship
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 18+ audiences, necessitates changes to align with Japan's stricter video game content guidelines.
Content Differences Between Japanese and International Versions:
The Japanese version will omit dismemberment and decapitation scenes, modifying depictions of wounds and severed body parts. Audio adjustments are also planned, though specifics remain undisclosed. Conversely, the international release (North America/Europe) will offer players the option to toggle these violent elements within the game's settings.
CERO's Strict Standards and Past Controversies:
This isn't the first time an Assassin's Creed title has faced CERO scrutiny. The organization's stringent approach to graphic violence, particularly dismemberment, has led to similar issues with past installments, including Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Origins. This strict policy has even resulted in cancelled Japanese releases, such as The Callisto Protocol in 2022 and the Dead Space Remake in 2023, due to developers' unwillingness to compromise on core gameplay experiences.
Yasuke's Description Altered:
Further modifications involve the description of Yasuke, a key protagonist. Japanese language versions on Steam and the PlayStation Store have replaced the term "samurai" (侍) 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," a historically contentious term in Japanese culture. Ubisoft's CEO, Yves Guillemot, previously stated the company prioritizes entertainment for a broad audience, and avoids pushing specific agendas.
Release Date:
Assassin's Creed Shadows is scheduled for release on March 20, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
