Assassin's Creed Shadows: Japan's CERO Rating Leads to Content Changes
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, necessitated the removal of dismemberment and decapitation scenes. Depictions of wounds and severed body parts have also been modified. While the Japanese audio may also include changes, specifics haven't been detailed.
International versions (North America/Europe) will offer players the option to toggle dismemberment and decapitation via the in-game settings.
CERO Z Rating and its Implications
The CERO Z rating reflects Japan's strict content guidelines, particularly concerning violence. This isn't unprecedented for the Assassin's Creed franchise; previous installments like Valhalla and Origins also received this rating. CERO's stringent approach to gore and dismemberment has led to challenges for game developers seeking a Japanese release. Notable examples include The Callisto Protocol and the Dead Space Remake, both of which bypassed a Japanese launch due to CERO's requirements.
Yasuke's Description Altered
Further changes involve Yasuke's description. On Steam and PlayStation Store's Japanese language pages, the term "samurai" has been replaced with "Ikki tousen" ("a warrior who can face a thousand enemies"). This follows past controversy surrounding the use of "black samurai" to describe Yasuke, a sensitive topic in Japanese history and culture. Ubisoft's CEO, Yves Guillemot, previously stated the company's focus is on entertainment for a broad audience, not pushing specific agendas.
Assassin's Creed Shadows is slated for release on March 20, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
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