IGN can confirm that Ubisoft has quietly prepared a day-one patch for Assassin's Creed Shadows, implementing several key adjustments, including modifications to temples and shrines.
Ubisoft shared the patch notes for this update with IGN, clarifying that these details were not part of any public announcement.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows day-one patch notes:
This update introduces various improvements and fixes, such as:
Players will no longer become trapped inside movable objects after dodging forward and interacting with them in kofuns.Fixed an issue where procedural weapons were incorrectly removed when selling items.Adjusted mechanics to prevent players from exiting the playable area when proning against obstacles.Improved horse navigation, addressing problems with turning and blocked paths.Adjusted lighting conditions at the entrances and exits of caves, kofuns, and architectural structures.Fixed cloth clipping issues on Yasuke's outfits (while riding) and Naoe's outfits (while crouching).Unarmed citizens no longer bleed when attacked, reducing unintended bloodshed in temples and shrines.Tables and racks within temples and shrines are now indestructible. (Some generic objects like drums or bowls can still be broken as they appear throughout the game world. Tables remain dynamic and can be moved or pushed by players).
The most notable change involves making tables and racks in temples and shrines unbreakable in this Feudal Japan-set game. While Ubisoft informed IGN that the day-one patch is for all players globally, this specific adjustment appears to be a direct response to the controversy the game has sparked within Japan.
On March 19, Shigeru Ishiba, the Prime Minister of Japan, addressed a question concerning Assassin’s Creed Shadows during an official government conference.
The question was raised by Hiroyuki Kada, a Japanese politician and member of the House of Councillors, who is campaigning for re-election this summer. Kada stated:
“I am concerned that allowing players to attack and destroy real-world locations in the game without permission could inspire similar actions in reality. Shrine officials and local residents share these worries. While freedom of expression must be respected, acts that disrespect local cultures should be avoided.”
Prime Minister Ishiba responded:
“We need to discuss the legal approach to this matter with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Defacing a shrine is unacceptable—it constitutes an insult to the nation itself. When the Self-Defense Forces were deployed to Samawah, Iraq, we ensured they studied Islamic customs in advance. Respecting a country's culture and religion is fundamental, and we must clearly communicate that we will not tolerate acts that dismiss these values.”
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The shrine depicted as being “defaced” in pre-release gameplay footage is the Itatehyozu Shrine in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, located within Kada's electoral district. He mentioned consulting with shrine representatives, who confirmed that Ubisoft did not seek permission to feature the shrine or use its name in the game.
While Masaki Ogushi, Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, stated that government agencies would collaborate if the shrine sought consultation, Ubisoft would likely be legally protected in using the shrine under Japan's Constitution as a work of artistic expression.
The responses from both ministers were somewhat vague and are unlikely to lead to specific actions, especially since Ubisoft appears to have proactively addressed these concerns with the day-one patch.
Based on IGN's testing, the patch does not yet appear to be active in the game.
Regardless of the game's performance in Japan, Assassin's Creed Shadows is under significant pressure to succeed globally for Ubisoft, especially following several delays and the commercial disappointment of last year’s Star Wars Outlaws. The company has faced a series of high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations leading up to this release.
IGN's Assassin’s Creed Shadows review scored the game 8/10, stating: “By refining its core mechanics, Assassin’s Creed Shadows delivers one of the strongest iterations of the open-world formula it has been perfecting over the past decade.”
