Assassin’s Creed Shadows Receives CERO Z Game Rating In Japan

Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Japanese Version Removes Dismemberment And Decapitation

Ubisoft Japan recently announced via Twitter (X) that Assassin’s Creed Shadows has been awarded a CERO Z rating by Japan’s Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO). This rating brings about notable differences between the content available in the overseas versions (North America/Europe) and the Japanese edition.

In the Japanese version of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, graphic elements such as dismemberment and decapitation have been entirely removed. Additionally, depictions of wounds and severed body parts will be altered. While some changes to the Japanese audio have been made in the overseas versions, Ubisoft has not specified which parts these changes affect.

For players outside Japan, AC Shadows offers an option to toggle the graphic depictions of dismemberment and decapitation within the game's settings menu, providing flexibility to suit individual preferences.

Assassin’s Creed Rated CERO Z In Japan, Only Suitable For 18+ Ages

A CERO Z rating indicates that the game's content is deemed suitable only for audiences aged 18 and above, prohibiting its sale or distribution to those under 18. CERO evaluates games based on four categories: sex-related content, violence, anti-social acts, and language and ideology expression.

Games that do not comply with CERO’s content guidelines are not rated, requiring developers to modify their content to meet these standards. While the statement highlights excessive violence as a reason for the rating, other elements of AC Shadows that contributed to this classification remain unspecified.

This isn't the first time the Assassin’s Creed series has encountered such issues. Previous titles like AC Valhalla and AC Origins also received CERO Z ratings due to their violent themes. CERO's stringent stance on gore and dismemberment has long been a challenge for game releases in Japan. Some developers, like those behind The Callisto Protocol in 2022 and Dead Space Remake in 2023, have opted not to release their games in Japan rather than comply with CERO’s demands. EA Japan’s General Manager Shaun Noguchi voiced his frustrations over these decisions, especially when compared to other games like Stellar Blade, which received a rating despite similar violent content.

Changes In Yasuke's Description In Game Store Pages

Assassin’s Creed Shadows also features a change in the description of Yasuke, one of its main protagonists. On the Steam and PS store pages, when viewed in Japanese, the term "samurai" (侍) used to describe Yasuke has been replaced with "騎当千" or "Ikki tousen," meaning "a warrior who can face a thousand enemies." This alteration follows backlash in 2024 regarding Ubisoft's initial description of Yasuke as "the black samurai," a sensitive topic in Japanese history and culture.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot addressed this issue, emphasizing that the company aims to create games for the broadest possible audience without pushing any specific agenda. The Assassin’s Creed series has a history of incorporating historical figures into its narratives, such as the Pope or Queen Victoria, making this situation familiar territory for the developers.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is slated for release on March 20, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For more details, visit our Assassin’s Creed Shadows page.