In the past, Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed allowed players to have relationships with characters of any gender. However, the latest installment, Shadows, has taken this even further. Some gamers who criticized the game for having a Black protagonist set in Japan are also upset about the option for same-sex relationships in the game.
This reaction seems surprising, given that the Assassin’s Creed series has always featured queer characters. For instance, the Ezio Trilogy had a gay Leonardo da Vinci, while Assassin’s Creed Unity included potentially transgender or intersex characters. Jacob Frye in Assassin’s Creed Syndicate was also canonically bisexual.
The option to choose the gender of the protagonist in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Valhalla further establishes a precedent for bisexual protagonists in the series. The criticism of Shadows seems unwarranted, as it adheres to the pattern set by previous games in portraying queer characters. While Assassin’s Creed may not be a perfect example of queer representation, it has never ignored queerness, particularly in the context of historical accuracy.
The current backlash surrounding Shadows – particularly the focus on the character Yasuke being gay – seems unwarranted given historical evidence of homosexuality in Japan. Some players are criticizing the game for not adhering to historical accuracy, but the series has always taken liberties with history for the sake of creating an entertaining game. Furthermore, the debate around Yasuke’s sexual orientation is moot, given that Assassin’s Creed often blends fact and fiction to create its alternate history.
Ultimately, players have the agency to choose whether Yasuke reciprocates male advances, or to pursue other romantic paths in the game.
