With Assassin’s Creed Shadows set to launch in just three days, Ubisoft’s mounting desperation has reached a new level. Reports now indicate that the company has quietly enlisted a special team tasked with shielding the developers from what they call “online harassment.” However, it’s the vague, undefined nature of what Ubisoft actually considers “harassment” that’s raising serious concerns—and has many questioning whether the company is simply using this initiative to silence critics and control the narrative around its latest, highly controversial title.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Qlectors Yasuke & Naoe (2024), Pure Arts
According to an anonymous Ubisoft employee speaking with French outlet BFMTV, Ubisoft has put in place a sweeping “anti-online harassment plan” ahead of the game’s release. This includes dedicated teams monitoring platforms like X, YouTube, Reddit, and others. Ubisoft reportedly has lawyers already lined up, prepared to file complaints against those they believe are crossing the line. The company has even gone as far as advising developers not to disclose their employment on social media to avoid becoming targets.
While there’s no doubt that personal threats directed at employees are unacceptable, many fans and industry observers are asking the critical question: where is Ubisoft drawing the line? Could negative reviews, memes, or even fair criticism of Assassin’s Creed Shadows fall under their interpretation of “harassment?
Government Backing Raises Eyebrows
Making matters even more troubling, reports suggest that Ubisoft is working directly with Canada’s Communications Security Establishment (CSE) to monitor online discourse. CSE’s involvement, an agency tied closely to government cybersecurity and oversight, has sparked fresh concerns about whether a major gaming corporation should have access to such state-backed tools for monitoring public commentary.
A screenshot from Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft
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The idea of a government-affiliated body assisting in silencing criticism—not illegal behavior, but simple criticism—has raised red flags for those worried about growing censorship in gaming spaces. Is this truly about protecting employees, or is it about protecting Ubisoft’s brand image at all costs?
Controlling the Narrative Instead of Fixing the Product
Ubisoft has had a rough few years. Between the cancellations of titles like XDefiant, poor reception to games like Star Wars Outlaws, and repeated financial setbacks, the company is facing significant pressure from investors and fans alike. Internally, Ubisoft’s leadership is under fire, with major shareholders even calling for CEO Yves Guillemot’s removal.
A screenshot from Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft
Much of that pressure now rests on the shoulders of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, a game that’s faced months of backlash for everything from historical inaccuracies to questionable design choices. Instead of addressing the actual criticism—such as why a Black samurai with debatable historical ties is front and center in a Japan-set story—Ubisoft seems to be doubling down, rolling out legal teams and government assistance to control the conversation online.
This isn’t a strategy focused on delivering a product that can stand on its own. It’s about silencing negative voices, regardless of whether the feedback is legitimate. It sets a dangerous precedent not just for Ubisoft, but for the gaming industry as a whole.
Will Criticism Be Labeled “Harassment”?
The problem lies in Ubisoft’s refusal to clearly define what constitutes “harassment.” Without transparency, content creators, journalists, and regular gamers are left wondering: Could honest reviews or negative opinions suddenly be flagged, removed, or met with legal threats?
Yasuke executes an innocent man pressed into a fight in Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft
Given recent instances where Ubisoft allegedly targeted creators for simply discussing leaks or criticizing internal decisions, it’s not unreasonable to think this new “anti-harassment” policy could be weaponized. When a company conflates public commentary with personal abuse, it becomes clear that free discourse is at risk.
Ubisoft’s Future at a Crossroads
Ubisoft’s financial instability, paired with its insistence on controlling online narratives rather than improving its product, points to a company in deep crisis. Instead of embracing feedback and listening to its long-time fan base, Ubisoft appears more concerned with silencing dissent, even if it means enlisting government help to do so.
A screenshot from Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2024), Ubisoft
As Assassin’s Creed Shadows approaches launch day, the gaming community faces a pivotal moment. Will Ubisoft’s strategy of clamping down on criticism set a new industry standard—or will players push back against the creeping control over how games are discussed?
Let us know your thoughts—how do you think Ubisoft will define “harassment”? Do you believe this strategy will backfire? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
Last night I dug for new info on You Be Soft’s financials. Turns out they lost almost a third of their revenue over nine months last year. When I say they literally can’t afford for this game to fail, I’m not exaggerating. Investors like Krupa might still believe the French developer can turn things around, but the raw numbers paint a much bleaker picture. This is on top of a review I just saw from LegacyKillaHD on YouTube. The game really is a complete mess in terms of story and technical aspects. One month was nowhere near enough time to fix anything.
But if Canada wants to step into the ring and try to defend this disaster, I welcome it. Fans and reviewers have gone up against big companies and they haven’t done a thing. What does a country whose government’s idea of “free trade” is seizing the businesses and even homes of entrepreneurs to capitulate and pander to foreign investors think they can do?
If you go back to 2021, they’ve lost 80% of their Market Cap and this is all BS posturing on their part. No one needs to harass anyone. This game is screwed and they know it. Oh, it’ll sell 4 – 6M copies and they’ll tout it as a success. Much like the MSM is touting Cap Falcon as being 31st best selling MCU movie. Which is both farcical on its face, but also intellectually dishonest when you factor in inflation.
The truth of the matter is in the last 18 months, Ubisoft have burned the bridges between them and all but their most dedicated fans. “Players need to get used to not owning their games.” They said. Players collectively replied, “Ubisoft better get used to players not buying them.”
Frankly, after the 2024 Ubisoft had, they must be quite accustomed to that feeling. Skull & Bones was an 800M, decade long development mess that has barely recouped any of that investment. XDefiant is already shut down and Star Wars Outlaws missed sales projections by 4.5M units. Selling 1M copies, when 5.5M were expected.
So, yes, Ubisoft will cheer the 5M AC Shadows sells. The MSM will tout it as a major victory! Like the good little lapdogs they are. But all the fans and all the financial people know, this game needs to sell about 15 – 20M copies to truly put Ubisoft on firmer financial ground. And that folks, is not happening.
I don’t think it will sell even four million copies after returns. Early reviews are savaging it for how boring, grindy, and unbalanced the gameplay is as well as its awful dialogue and writing. The latter doesn’t need much explanation but the former?
Naoe can’t even use ranged or heavy weapons, only Yasuke can; the game practically holds your hand to guide you when you explore and lacks most of the exploration previous titles had; after about the third region is unlocked, you’re forced to grind of Knowledge Points to even become strong enough to survive doing the same, boring things for hours on end. Then there are all the cutscenes that were inserted in the middle of the action, literally dozens of them.
There’s no need to discuss the elephant in the room because You Be Soft completely ignores it and proves they just wanted a token instead of actually doing anything unique.
All a ruse to censor critics. No one is threatening devs. The only harassment they get is from their own degenerate, DEI co-workers.
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