Ubisoft confirmed that the Japanese version of Assassin’s Creed Shadows would be censored in order to comply with CERO, Japan’s game rating organization. According to the information, the changes encompass reducing graphic violence and dismemberment, which CERO had regarded as too graphic even for the CERO Z rating, Japan’s equivalent of 18-plus.
While Assassin’s Creed Shadows has seen delays on several occasions, the March 2025 release date has reignited long-simmering hopes among fans. Updated hints for the game include a free preorder DLC called Claws of Awaji that adds an extra ten hours of story gameplay, a new region to explore, and the introduction of an enemy faction called the Sanzoku Ippa. Yet this news of censorship has received mixed responses from players in Japan.
In a statement released on Twitter by @UBISOFT_ JAPAN, as translated by Automation, the company told there were many alterations to be made to observe CERO guidelines. This includes a ban on Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ disabling dismemberment, which will omit the act of severing the limbs during fights for those in Japan. Ubisoft is also tweaking how dismembered body parts are shown, and mentions of altering certain Japanese-language dialogue were teased; otherwise, specifics remain unclear.
This is not the first time that CERO has come under fire for the way it handled violent content in a game. In 2024, EA Japan General Manager Shaun Noguchi criticized CERO for not rating the Dead Space remake because of gory material, even as the violent company approved Stellar Blade for CERO D rating on which similar levels of violence are expressed.
For Ubisoft, it reminds them of game censorship issues of the past, like in Resident Evil Village, and how developers continue to deal with the balance of releasing a game in areas where cultural sensitivities and rating standards differ. Despite these changes, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is poised to deliver an engaging experience for fans worldwide, with its blend of historical settings and stealth-action gameplay remaining intact.
