IGN has confirmed that Ubisoft has discretely prepared a day-one update for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, introducing several critical adjustments, including modifications to temples and shrines.
The developer provided IGN with the official patch notes for this version, confirming that these details were not part of any public announcement.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Day-One Patch Notes
This update delivers multiple improvements and fixes, such as:
Players will no longer become trapped inside movable objects after dodging forward and interacting with them in kofuns.Fixed an issue where procedural weapons were incorrectly removed when selling items.Tweaks to prevent characters from moving out of bounds while proning against obstacles.Improved horse navigation to reduce problems with turning and blocked paths.Adjusted lighting for cave entrances/exits, kofuns, and architectural portals.Fixes for cloth clipping on Yasuke’s outfits (while riding) and Naoe’s outfits (while crouching).Unarmed citizens no longer bleed when attacked, minimizing unintended blood effects in temples and shrines.Tables and shelving units within temples and shrines are now indestructible. (Note: Some generic world objects like drums or bowls can still be broken. Tables remain interactive and can be moved or pushed by the player.)
The most notable adjustment concerns tables and racks in temples and shrines, which are now unbreakable in this Feudal Japan-set title. Ubisoft stated to IGN that the day-one patch is for all players globally, not just Japan. However, it is difficult to interpret this specific change as anything but a direct response to the controversy the game has sparked within the country.
On March 19, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba addressed a question concerning Assassin’s Creed Shadows during an official government conference.
The inquiry was raised by Hiroyuki Kada, a Japanese politician and member of the House of Councillors who is campaigning for re-election this summer. Kada expressed his concerns:
“I am concerned that permitting players to attack and destroy real-world locations in the game without authorization could inspire similar actions in reality. Shrine authorities and local residents share this anxiety. While freedom of expression must be upheld, acts that disrespect local cultures should be avoided.”
Prime Minister Ishiba responded:
“Determining the legal approach requires consultation with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Defacing a shrine is unacceptable—it constitutes an insult to the nation itself. Prior to the Self-Defense Forces' deployment to Samawah, Iraq, they were instructed to study Islamic customs thoroughly. Respecting a country's culture and religion is fundamental, and we must unequivocally state that we will not tolerate actions that show disregard for them.”
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The shrine depicted as “defaced” in pre-release Assassin's Creed Shadows footage is Itatehyozu Shrine in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, located within Kada's electoral district. Kada stated that after consulting shrine representatives, it was confirmed Ubisoft did not seek permission to depict the shrine or use its name in the game.
While Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Masaki Ogushi responded that government bodies would cooperate “if the shrine seeks consultation,” Ubisoft would likely be legally protected in using the shrine under Japan's Constitution as a work of artistic expression.
The ministers' responses were notably vague and are unlikely to lead to concrete action, especially as Ubisoft seems to have preemptively addressed these concerns with the day-one patch.
Based on IGN's testing, the patch does not yet appear to be live in the game.
Regardless of the game's reception in Japan, Assassin's Creed Shadows faces immense pressure to perform well globally for Ubisoft. This follows several delays and the commercial disappointment of last year’s Star Wars Outlaws. Indeed, Ubisoft has endured a series of high-profile failures, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations leading up to this release.
IGN's Assassin’s Creed Shadows review awarded the game an 8/10. Our verdict stated: “By refining the core elements of its established systems, Assassin’s Creed Shadows delivers one of the finest iterations of the open-world formula it has been perfecting over the past decade.”
