A report claims that Ubisoft’s booth at Japan Expo for Assassin’s Creed Shadows received sparse traffic throughout the weekend.
A screenshot from Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft
X user rc_166 shared photos from the convention on July 12th and commented, “The other booths were crowded, but the Assassin’s Creed Shadow booth was as you can see. The chairs were used as resting spots. I wonder if the French are angry too.”
rc_166 on X
Former World of Warcraft Team Lead Mark Kern aka Grummz would react to this post and share more information from his sources on the ground. First, he stated, “The bad news and outright awful mistakes Ubisoft is making are just piling up. There is more than what I can post in a day. The Assassin’s Creed booth was empty at Japan Expo compared to the other crowded booths. Even the French don’t seem to be excited for this game.”
The bad news and outright awful mistakes Ubisoft is making are just piling up. There is more than what I can post in a day.
The Assassin’s Creed booth was empty at Japan Expo compared to the other crowded booths.
Even the French don’t seem to be excited for this game. pic.twitter.com/mklqHztYHb
— Grummz (@Grummz) July 13, 2024
On July 14th, he added, “Just got a report from someone at Japan Expo. Ubisoft staff are asking that anyone using the seats at the Assassins Creed: Shadows booth to turn around to face their screen. People were using them as benches to watch the much more popular Nintendo booth across the way. Nobody cares about Ubisoft.”
Just got a report from someone at Japan Expo.@Ubisoft staff are asking that anyone using the seats at the Assassins Creed: Shadows booth to turn around to face their screen.
People were using them as benches to watch the much more popular Nintendo booth across the way.
Nobody… pic.twitter.com/OF1S1DIfsM
— Grummz (@Grummz) July 14, 2024
Next, he shared another photo from the booth and wrote, “Another shot of the Assassin’s Creed Shadows booth. They are showing ‘exclusive gameplay’ but it’s the same video they already posted to YouTube. If you stay till the very end, Ubisoft gives you a bag of goodies.”
Another shot of the Assassin’s Creed Shadows booth.
They are showing “exclusive gameplay” but it’s the same video they already posted to YouTube.
If you stay till the very end, Ubisoft gives you a bag of goodies. pic.twitter.com/six6PRamWu
— Grummz (@Grummz) July 14, 2024
The official Assassin’s Creed France account on X had previously promised that the booth would give potential players an immersive experience when it initially promoted it back on July 11th.
Assassin’s Creed France on X
However, it was quickly discovered that the katana shown in the picture was a reproduction of One Piece’s Sandai Kitetsu that is wielded by Roronoa Zoro and sold by Féenomen.
A listing for Zoro’s Sandai Kitetsu on Feenomenn.fr
On top of using the One Piece katana, Grummz would also share posts from Japanese users accusing Ubisoft of using items in the game without permission. He wrote, “So Ubisoft has raided Japanese culture, appropriating vast swaths of it without permission, and they are very very upset! It was not approached with any respect. Lantern and other artifacts taken without permission, this is one of MANY examples Japanese keep sending me…”
So @Ubisoft has raided Japanese culture, appropriating vast swaths of it without permission, and they are very very upset! It was not approached with any respect.
Lantern and other artifacts taken without permission, this is one of MANY examples Japanese keep sending me.
But… pic.twitter.com/cH6ItSNobm
— Grummz (@Grummz) July 13, 2024
One of the individuals accused Ubisoft of using an octagonal lantern from Todaiji Temple without receiving permission. The user wrote, “When we asked the Todaiji Temple’s public relations officer, he told us that he does not approve any commercial use and is aware that it has been used without permission by Assassin’s Creed. After checking the footage, he confirmed that it is an octagonal lantern from Todaiji Temple and is currently discussing the matter.”
KM1514Brook on X
This image is clearly seen on the television in the initial post noting how sparse the crowd is.
All of this comes in the wake of Ubisoft Japan officially apologizing to the Sekigahara Teppo Corps for using its back flag without permission. In the middle of June, Ubisoft was accused of stealing the banner of the Sekigahara Teppo Corps. As noted by former World of Warcraft Team Lead Mark Kern, the banner was seen worn by a solider in the game.
This is the banner Ubisoft used without permission.
Video is here: https://t.co/7x3GSi63gn pic.twitter.com/S1V0DRct3h
— Grummz (@Grummz) June 18, 2024
About three weeks after a member of the reenactment group revealed he contacted Ubisoft Japan, the company issued an apology.
As translated by Google, Ubisoft Japan posted on X, “We have received notice that two pieces of concept art previously released for Assassin’s Creed: Shadows use the flag of the Sekigahara Battlefield Hospitality Union “Sekigahara Rifle Corps” without permission. The group was given the opportunity to apologize, and it was accepted.” This is likely an issue with the translation and it is probably better interpreted as “The group gave us the opportunity to apologize, and it was accepted.”
Ubisoft Japan added, “The art in question will not be used or distributed any further beyond this date, except for being included in the artbook in the Collector’s Edition. We deeply apologize for this matter.”
Ubisoft Japan on X
What do you make of this report that the crowds were sparse at the Assassin’s Creed Shadows booth at Japan Expo?
