Assassin's Creed Shadows is dropping on March 20, and Ubisoft has reportedly rolled out an anti-harassment plan to shield its developers from possible online abuse.
The plan allegedly laid out by Ubisoft includes various protective measures. According to a report from French News Network BFMTV (with thanks to ResetEra user Arubedo for the find), the company is teaming up with Canada's Communications Security Establishment (CSE) to identify and counter potential threats.
Employees affected by the situation are also receiving psychological and legal support, and legal teams are ready to act in confirmed harassment cases. One Ubisoft employee told BFMTV, "We're advised not to post on social media that we work at Ubisoft to avoid harassment."
The debate over Assassin's Creed Shadows centers on the inclusion of Yasuke, the historical Black samurai. Despite some opposition to his portrayal as a samurai, Yasuke was a real historical figure in 16th-century Japan. The criticism got worse when Elon Musk made it a cultural debate instead of keeping it a historical one.
Ubisoft employees have also reportedly faced harassment due to the game's announcement. The company's steps are meant to keep things from getting out of hand before the game drops.
This anti-harassment plan couldn't come at a better time for Ubisoft. The company is said to have encountered internal challenges, such as layoffs, workplace issues, and a heavy development crunch.
Some developers worked under extreme pressure, with one source stating, "The teams worked like never before to finish it." Reactions from the gaming industry have been varied.
Some think Ubisoft's actions are needed because of how things are online, while others feel the backlash doesn't justify these big steps. Some even say the whole thing's "overblown," while others feel bad Ubisoft has to go this far.
Despite all the talk, Assassin's Creed Shadows remains one of the most awaited releases. Ubisoft's dealing with harassment might show other developers how to handle it.
As the release date approaches, these measures will be tested, determining how game companies handle online discourse in the future.