The extra $20 million spent by Ubisoft to refine and perfect “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” didn’t seem to change many people’s opinions, as demonstrated in a recent Twitch broadcast.
Despite garnering significant disfavor since its initial trailer, the game now confronts the stark reality of its waning popularity. During their recent live stream demonstration on Ubisoft’s Twitch channel, which has over 1.1 million followers, the viewership barely topped out at 15,000 viewers. The livestream was designed to emphasize the game’s “refined” gameplay, an aspect of the reported $20 million extra investment.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows bugs out on official @Ubisoft live stream happening now.
They tried and failed to pet the dog…
— Grummz (@Grummz) January 23, 2025
During the live demonstration, developers aimed to exhibit a seemingly straightforward feature – a dog-petting animation. Unfortunately, the animation malfunctioned, turning this instance into an unexpected symbol of the game’s problematic development process. With each mishap like this one, rumors and whispers about Ubisoft’s potential inexperienced workforce seem more plausible.
I can’t help but echo the sentiments shared by many viewers during the livestream. It seems that the dialogue and voice acting could use some refinement, as they appear poorly written and unpolished in my eyes. The combat system still feels rough around the edges, the cutscenes lack fluidity, and the character models can be unsettling when interacting with NPCs. It’s almost as if their mouth movements are out of sync, creating an awkward, doll-like experience that feels more like watching a puppet show than a human interaction. This reminds me somewhat of Bethesda’s Oblivion NPC talking heads, but without the warm, nostalgic appeal. I find myself yearning for improvement in these areas to fully immerse myself in the game world.
Every time a mission or goal came up in the game, I felt an uncomfortable mix of embarrassment and lack of enthusiasm.
Ever since the unveiling of this project, it’s faced numerous criticisms and debates due to contentious creative choices, continuous postponements, factual discrepancies, and an insensitive launch timing.
At first, there was great enthusiasm among fans for the franchise’s venture into feudal Japan. However, the choice to feature Yasuke, a Black samurai portrayed as historical, as the game’s playable character sparked controversy. This is the first time in the Assassin’s Creed series that a real-life figure serves as the player character, deviating from the usual practice of fictional protagonists interacting with historical figures. Critics claim that incorporating Yasuke undermines authenticity, as they had expected a traditional Japanese samurai or ninja as the main character.
I find myself expressing my dissatisfaction, compounded by allegations of historical inconsistencies. For instance, featuring Chinese architecture in a game portraying feudal Japan seems to be a blunder. Such oversights stir doubts about the thoroughness of Ubisoft’s research and their genuine regard for Japanese history. Despite their assertions of comprehensive cultural consultation throughout development, these incidents cast a shadow over their dedication to authenticity.
The game’s launch has been postponed, initially moving from November 2024 to February 2025, and now to March 20, 2025. Unfortunately, this new date coincides with the 30th anniversary of a tragic domestic event in Tokyo – the subway sarin attack that claimed 13 lives and injured over a thousand. This scheduling choice has sparked harsh criticism for perceived insensitivity, as it appears Ubisoft may not fully appreciate the significance of this date in Japanese history, causing concern among fans.
Collectively, these disputes create an image of a game that has distanced its primary supporters and potentially threatened Ubisoft’s tenuous standing. Given that Ubisoft’s future financial stability hinges on Shadows, these escalating problems could weaken their chances for success.
It seems that Assassin’s Creed Shadows is heading towards trouble, not just for Ubisoft, but also for the gaming community. This recent livestream, serving as a silent premonition of potential sales numbers, highlights the increasing gap between the publisher and its player base.
Editor in Chief M. Montanaro also contributed to this article.
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2025-01-24 01:55