IGN has confirmed that Ubisoft has quietly prepared a day-one patch for Assassin’s Creed Shadows that makes several significant changes, particularly to temples and shrines. Ubisoft provided IGN with the patch notes, which were not included in any public announcement.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows day-one patch notes:

This update brings various improvements and fixes, including:

• Players no longer getting stuck inside movable objects after dodging forward and interacting with them in kofuns
• Fix for procedural weapons being removed incorrectly when selling items
• Adjustments to prevent players from going out of bounds when proning against objects
• Improved horse navigation, reducing issues with turning and blocked paths
• Lighting adjustments for cave, kofun, and architectural entrances/exits
• Fixes for cloth clipping on Yasuke’s outfits (while riding) and Naoe’s outfits (while crouching)
• Citizens without weapons no longer bleed when attacked, reducing unintended blood spill in temples/shrines
• Tables and racks in temples/shrines are now indestructible (Some objects like drums or bowls can still be broken as they are generic ones present everywhere in the world) (Tables are still dynamic objects, so players can still move/push them)

The headline change involves tables and racks in temples and shrines, which are now indestructible in the game set in Feudal Japan. Ubisoft confirmed to IGN that this day-one patch is for all players globally, but it seems particularly responsive to the controversy surrounding the game in Japan.

On March 19, Shigeru Ishiba, the Prime Minister of Japan, addressed a question about Assassin’s Creed Shadows during an official government conference. The question was raised by Japanese politician Hiroyuki Kada, a member of the House of Councillors of Japan, who is campaigning for re-election this summer. Kada expressed concerns that allowing players to attack and destroy real-world locations without permission might encourage similar behavior in real life. He mentioned that shrine officials and local residents shared these worries, emphasizing the need to respect local cultures while acknowledging freedom of expression.

Prime Minister Ishiba responded, indicating that the issue would require discussions with various ministries, including the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He stressed that defacing a shrine is an insult to the nation and highlighted the importance of respecting cultural and religious sensitivities, drawing parallels with past efforts to ensure respect during international deployments.

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The shrine depicted as being "defaced" in pre-release gameplay videos of Assassin's Creed Shadows is Itatehyozu Shrine in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, which falls within Kada’s constituency. Kada confirmed that he had consulted with shrine representatives, who stated that Ubisoft did not seek their permission to depict and name the shrine in the game.

Masaki Ogushi, Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, mentioned that government agencies would collaborate to address the issue if the shrine sought consultation. However, under Japan's Constitution, Ubisoft's use of the shrine in a work of artistic expression is likely permissible.

The responses from the ministers were vague and unlikely to lead to specific actions, especially as Ubisoft has proactively addressed these concerns with the day-one patch. The patch is not yet live in-game, according to IGN’s tests.

Regardless of its performance in Japan, there is significant pressure on Assassin's Creed Shadows to succeed globally for Ubisoft, following delays and the underwhelming sales of last year's Star Wars Outlaws. Ubisoft has faced numerous challenges, including high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations leading up to the release of Assassin's Creed Shadows.

IGN’s review of Assassin’s Creed Shadows scored it an 8/10, praising the game for refining its open-world systems and delivering one of the best iterations in the series over the past decade.