Ubisoft Implements Comprehensive Plan to Protect Team from Online Harassment Ahead of Assassins Creed Shadows Release

The journey toward the release of  Assassin’s Creed Shadows has been fraught with challenges and complications. Now, Ubisoft is gearing up for the final push before launch, which may bring the peak of online bullying from certain users. A studio employee revealed that Ubisoft is taking this issue seriously and is prepared to protect its staff.

In an interview with a major French publication BFMTV, an unnamed staff member disclosed that Ubisoft has developed a strategy to combat online harassment. This initiative was prompted by Canadian authorities since the game is being produced by Ubisoft Quebec.

A dedicated team has been assembled to monitor social media and respond swiftly to targeted bullying. This team even includes legal experts capable of filing lawsuits if necessary. Additionally, Ubisoft has arranged psychological and legal support for employees who have faced attacks from detractors. Developers are also advised not to disclose their association with Ubisoft on social media to mitigate harassment. “Unlike previous instances, this time it’s serious,” emphasized the source during the BFMTV interview.

Those supporting the anti-DEI movement have been particularly vocal against Ubisoft and Assassin’s Creed Shadows for various reasons, with the presence of the Black samurai Yasuke drawing the most criticism. The game has also faced backlash for alleged historical inaccuracies and perceived disrespect towards Japanese culture. The studio even issued an apology to help ease the tension.

Ubisoft and its employees have previously encountered user backlash. For example, a woman who worked on  Assassin’s Creed Mirage shared that she received vile messages and even death threats because her team «painted the roofs of certain buildings blue, which was somewhat inaccurate.” “So, yes, we need to protect developers,” she concluded.

In comments to the media, a Ubisoft representative stated that employee safety is the company’s top priority. As part of their standard practice, Ubisoft offers a range of resources to help prevent or address online harassment.

Furthermore, the source pointed out that Ubisoft holds high hopes for Shadows, especially in light of a series of financial setbacks that have heavily impacted the company. The studio is anticipating sales figures comparable to those of  Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, the second-best-selling title in the franchise. In its latest report, Ubisoft noted that preorders for Shadows have reached levels similar to those of Odyssey.

According to BFMTV’s report, Ubisoft expresses cautious optimism regarding Shadows, though concerns continue to arise. For instance, there are worries about the upcoming release of  Ghost of Yōtei in a similar setting. Ubisoft fears that the long-term success of Sucker Punch‘s project might overshadow Shadows. However, Ubisoft’s CEO Yves Guillemot previously stated that he is not concerned about this competition at all.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to launch on March 20 for PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and Amazon Luna’s cloud service. The game will feature Russian subtitles. Reviews of Shadows will begin to be published today.