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 games suitable only for players 18 and older, 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 contain changes, specifics haven't been revealed. The international versions (North America/Europe) will offer players the option to toggle dismemberment and decapitation via the in-game settings.

The CERO Z rating highlights Japan's stringent content guidelines, particularly regarding graphic violence. This isn't a new challenge for the Assassin's Creed franchise; many previous titles, including Valhalla and Origins, also received CERO Z ratings. The organization's strict stance on gore and dismemberment has led to past conflicts with developers, with some games, like The Callisto Protocol in 2022, ultimately forgoing a Japanese release due to the required modifications. Similarly, the Dead Space Remake in 2023 faced the same hurdle.

Beyond the visual alterations, the game's description of Yasuke, a key protagonist, has also been adjusted. The term "samurai" (侍), used in the Steam and PlayStation Store listings' English versions, has been replaced with "騎当千" (Ikki tousen), meaning "a warrior who can face a thousand enemies," in the Japanese versions. This change follows criticism in 2024 regarding the use of "black samurai" to describe Yasuke, a sensitive topic within 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 scheduled for release on March 20, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.