Assassin’s Creed: Shadows Live Gameplay Stream Hysterically Bugs Out...

"We're not... uhhh... we're not cool like that yet..."

The worst thing that could happen to a heavily scrutinized game... happened. Ubisoft went live with some gameplay of Assassin's Creed Shadows and it bugged out when the Ubisoft developer attempted to... of all things... simply pet the dog.

A delay that's cost Ubisoft an additional $20 million to supposedly improve and polish Assassin’s Creed: Shadows has done very little to sway public opinion, as evidenced by their recent gameplay stream on Twitch.

The game, already mired in controversy and widely criticized since its reveal trailer, failed to attract much enthusiasm at all. Despite Ubisoft’s Twitch channel having well over 1.1 million followers, the livestream itself showcasing Shadows barely peaked at 15,000 viewers (Source - ThatParkPlace.com)—which, I gotta be honest - is a beyond dismal turnout for a major and supposedly (according to Ubisoft) much-anticipated upcoming AAA title.

The goal of the stream was pretty straight forward - at least so I thought: To reassure everyone that the game had improved after months of more polish and the additional investments... But instead, the showcase became a masterclass in how to deepen skepticism. Ubisoft's ability to outdo themselves in this area of comedy is actually quite the talent, in the right light...

A Buggy Dog-Petting Disaster

At one point during the stream, developers demonstrated what should have been a simple, charming moment: petting a dog. It's one of those 'small' touches that gamers have come to expect to be standardized in gaming. Hell, there's even a very popular X account "@CanYouPetTheDog" that's sole purpose is to inform gamers on if you can pet the animal in a particular game, and that account has over half a million followers!

What followed was an unintentional comedic highlight when the animation bugged out, leaving the player character stuck in a glitchy loop unable to pet the dog. What should have been a heartfelt, relatable addition to the game instead turned into a metaphor for the troubled state of Assassin’s Creed: Shadows... and while the Ubisoft Game Director Charles Benoit and other employees on stream attempted to laugh it off, the reality was far darker...

The moment was a stark reminder of all the rumors swirling around Ubisoft’s development struggles, including accusations of mismanagement and a lack of skilled developers. Happening in real time, for all to see.

Yasuke: A Concrete Wall of Issues

As if the dog-petting bug wasn’t enough, the stream also featured an over-the-top moment involving the protagonist, Yasuke, a character already steeped in controversy. In one scene, Yasuke literally powered through a concrete wall by simply lowering his shoulder, sending rubble flying.

This superhuman feat left viewers baffled and added fuel to the criticism that Shadows has abandoned any semblance of realism for spectacle.

Yasuke’s depiction has been quite the... point of contention since the game’s announcement. As the first Assassin’s Creed title to use a real historical figure as its protagonist, Ubisoft leaned HEAVY into the DEI aspect of character creation, with rumors of Yasuke being modeled after George Floyd during the height of BLM riots back in 2020. Many fans of the AC franchise feel like the choice of Yasuke—a Black samurai documented via proven lies from Thomas Lockley to have had supposedly existed in feudal Japan—is more of a nod to modern ideological trends than any kind of actual attempt at authenticity.

Poor Dialogue, Janky Combat, and More

The livestream’s problems didn’t end there. Viewers in the chat chimed in with complaints about the poorly written dialogue, stiff cutscenes, and subpar voice acting. The combat system was described as clunky at best... with Floyd, errr, Yasuke, given the ability to STOMP enemies to stun, and NPC interactions overall felt unnatural. Watching the stream showcased character models displaying awkward, unsynced mouth movements - a calling card hallmark for Ubisoft these days, unfortunately.

Kaida's comment on X summed it up: “If you think that’s bad, they even gave Yasuke a black privilege stomp.”

A Series of Missteps

The game's racially charged troubles extend well beyond these obvious technical hiccups though... Ubisoft’s decision to feature Chinese architectural influences in a setting meant to depict feudal Japan has drawn accusations of lazy research and cultural disrespect. Or how they chose to delay the release of the game to the anniversary of a major Japanese terrorist attack...

The latest delay, now pushing the release date to March 20, 2025, has sparked yet another controversy. This date coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Tokyo subway sarin attack, a national tragedy in Japan. The timing has been criticized as tone-deaf, further alienating a potential Japanese audience.

It feels as if every step of the way, when given the opportunity, Ubisoft will take the ignorant path... which is ironic coming from a company supposedly so indoctrinated with DEI and consultancy that you'd think if anything, this is what they'd be getting right.

A Growing Disconnect

From gameplay bugs to tone-deaf decisions, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows perfectly exemplifies Ubisoft’s growing disconnect with its audience. What should have been an exciting entry into the franchise’s first foray into feudal Japan has instead become a case study in how to lose fan trust at record speed.

The dog-petting bugs and Yasuke’s concrete-smashing moments symbolize a game that seems far more focused on spectacle and ideological panderings than delivering an actual polished, immersive experience fans expect.

As Shadows limps toward its release date, it’s hard to imagine how Ubisoft will recover from the damage they've already done. For now, the Twitch stream serves as a grim preview of what’s to come—a buggy, uninspired title that could end up being the nail in the coffin for Ubisoft’s reputation...

~Smash