Assassin’s Creed Shadows day-one patch seemingly addresses Japanese government concern over destructible shrines

As Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches on Thursday, developer Ubisoft snuck in a last-minute patch that makes several adjustments to the games’ temples and shrines. The update comes just a day after Japanese politician Hiroyuki Kada brought concerns to prime minister Shigeru Ishiba during a government meeting, according to IGN.

Kada’s concerns, per IGN’s translation, are centered on how in-game acts could inspire violence towards shrines in real-life. “Of course, freedom of expression must be respected, but acts that demean local cultures should be avoided,” he said. Ishiba responded that it’s something to discuss with Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — but that the defacement of actual Japanese shrines would not be tolerated.

Ubisoft’s day-one patch seemingly addresses these concerns, making tables and racks in shrines and temples “indestructible,” according to the patch notes. More generic objects seen elsewhere in the world, like bowls, can still be broken. Tables, too, remain “dynamic” objects that can be pushed around and moves, so it’s possible you can knock stuff around by accident.

Elsewhere, characters without weapons won’t bleed when attacked, “reducing unintended blood spill in temples/shrines.”

Here’s are the highlights of the patch, from IGN:

• 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).

Ubisoft told IGN the patch has been applied globally, not just for players in Japan. Ubisoft has not responded to Polyon’s request for more information.