Ubisoft Faces Backlash Over Assassin's Creed Shadows Banner
Ubisoft has found itself in hot water over the use of a real-world banner in the development of Assassin's Creed Shadows. The company has issued an apology to the Sekigahara Teppo-tai infantryman reenactment group after discovering that a flag used in the game's concept art closely resembled the group's official banner.
The upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows has been eagerly anticipated by fans due to its medieval Japan setting. The series' history of blending historical accuracy with fictional elements made the prospect of exploring this era particularly exciting. However, Ubisoft's attempt to capture the authenticity of the Sengoku period inadvertently led to the copyright infringement.
Following the discovery of the similarity between the game's concept art and the reenactment group's banner, Ubisoft swiftly took action. The company removed the banner from its website and other digital platforms, and confirmed that it would no longer be used in the game's development. While the banner has been removed from most digital assets, Ubisoft acknowledged that some copies of the game's collector's edition art book, which already contained the image, will remain in circulation.
The Sekigahara Teppo-tai infantryman reenactment group has accepted Ubisoft's apology. A member of the group expressed relief that the company had acknowledged the mistake and taken steps to rectify the situation. While the incident was unfortunate, the group also noted that the unexpected publicity had increased their visibility.