Ubisoft Apologizes to Japanese Historical Reenactment Group for Using Its Flag in Assassin’s Creed Shadows Artwork Without Permission

Ubisoft has apologized after using a Japanese historical reenactment group’s flag in Assassin’s Creed Shadows concept art without permission.

As Siliconera reported, Ubisoft Japan apologized on X/Twitter and admitted to using the flag in two artworks without permission. The company also claimed to have apologized to the flag’s owner, Sekigahara Teppo-tai, a volunteer historical reenactment group that performs in front of audiences at festivals and other events.

Eagle-eyed fans spotted the same rendition of the flag, seen below, in a piece of concept art for the Japanese-set Assassin’s Creed game, released alongside its full reveal. It was raised in honor of a prominent member of the Sekigahara Teppo-tai, Twitter user X/ @matchlock_kagewho posted a photo of the real flag taken on October 27, 2019, and expressed concern about Ubisoft using it without permission.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Concept Art Featuring the Historical Reenactment Group Flag

Ubisoft has now apologized for using the flag and said it will no longer use the associated artwork, with one exception: the physical, presumably already-printed art book featured in the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Collector’s Edition. Ubisoft said it is working to make the world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows as “authentic as possible.”

Assassin’s Creed Shadows was fully revealed in May 2024 as a Japanese-set entry where players take control of two protagonists: the stealthy shinobi Naoe and the action-oriented Yasuke, who is a true figure in Japanese history.

IGN offered up a ton of exclusive content around the reveal, and you can learn more about all the gameplay changes, story beats, and open-world assassinations coming to Shadows in our extensive interview with the development team.

If that’s not enough, check out our analysis and explanation of where and when Shadows takes place and the 40 key details we learned about the game. You can also watch our full analysis of the cinematic trailer to discover all its hidden details, Easter eggs, and more.

Shadows will launch on November 12, 2024 for those who purchase the Gold, Ultimate, or Deluxe Editions, while the Standard Edition is available on November 15, 2024.

Image credit: @matchlock_kage on X/Twitter

Ryan Dinsdale is a freelance journalist for IGN. He talks about The Witcher all day long.