Ubisoft just can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to cultural accuracy. This time, it’s the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Collector’s Edition that’s drawing criticism—not for its in-game content, but for a glaringly inauthentic "Japanese" wall scroll that has left actual Japanese people shaking their heads in disappointment.
The backlash started when Dr. Alaric Naudé, who per his bio is an expert in East Asian languages and cultures, took to Twitter to tear apart Ubisoft’s supposed attempt at authenticity. His detailed analysis of the scroll exposed quite a stunning amount of lack of cultural awareness, showing that Ubisoft—has yet again—failed to do even the most basic research. Why do they need consultancy companies if they don't do anything??
The Wall Scroll Isn’t Japanese—It’s a Western Caricature
Dr. Naudé’s critique highlights a TON of glaring errors in the design of the scroll, which are painfully obvious to anyone familiar with traditional Japanese aesthetics:
Chinese Calligraphy, Not Japanese – The font style chosen is undeniably Chinese in appearance, not Japanese. This is a fundamental mistake that immediately reveals a lack of proper oversight.
Thin, Unbalanced Lines – Traditional Japanese calligraphy emphasizes brushstroke balance and character proportions. Ubisoft’s design features overly thin lines that do not match the style expected in historical Japanese scrolls.
Incorrect Text Placement and Layout – In traditional Japanese scrolls, writing is almost always placed in the top right corner and arranged vertically from right to left. Ubisoft’s version completely disregards this, opting for a more Westernized, centered alignment that clashes with historical conventions.
Red Ink Is Extremely Rare – Writing in red ink is almost never done in Japanese or Chinese calligraphy, except for very specific cases (such as corrections or seals). Using it here makes it stand out in the worst possible way.
Improper Aspect Ratio and Composition – Authentic hanging scrolls have a carefully maintained ratio of height to width, often 3:1 or 2:1. Furthermore, the balance between calligraphy and painting should be 1:2 or 2:1, creating a natural harmony. Ubisoft’s version completely ignores these traditional proportions, making it look like a cheap knockoff rather than a faithful historical recreation.
A Failure in Cultural Authenticity
This isn’t just a minor artistic critique—it’s another blatant example of Ubisoft failing to respect the culture it is supposedly celebrating. Assassin’s Creed Shadows, a game set in feudal Japan, is already facing quite a lot of skepticism over how well a Western studio can portray the era with accuracy. A botched collector’s item only adds fuel to the fire.
Dr. Naudé’s final take is damning:
“To me, this does not seem to have been designed by an Asian person. Rather, it looks like what a Westerner would imagine an ‘Asian-style hanging scroll.’ It seems like Ubisoft has no regard for quality control or authenticity. This isn’t even ‘Asian’ or even Japanese.”
And that’s the real issue here —this isn’t about nitpicking aesthetics; it’s about Ubisoft’s continued unending pattern of treating historical and cultural representation like a mere afterthought.
With Japanese gamers and cultural experts alike calling out the blatant mistakes, Ubisoft needs to ask itself about Ubisoft once again: If they can’t even get a simple collector’s item right, how can fans trust it to portray feudal Japan accurately in the game itself??
~Smash
It is very nitpicky, but deserved. Once a game loses any good faith, this is what happens. If Ubisoft hired actual cultural experts rather than communists who wanted to push Yasuke as an important historical figure then maybe they would've done better.