An Exhausted ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Hits Back At Elon Musk

Forbes - Mar 26th, 2025
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Ubisoft's Assassin’s Creed Shadows has faced intense criticism from anti-DEI movements, primarily for featuring a black samurai character, Yasuke. The controversy escalated when Mark 'Grummz' Kern and Elon Musk criticized the game and a streamer for promoting it. Ubisoft's official Twitter account responded to Musk with a viral clapback, referencing Musk's embarrassing gaming controversy. This tweet garnered over 480,000 likes and 25 million views, marking a significant moment in gaming social media history.

The incident highlights Ubisoft's frustration with ongoing harassment from anti-DEI critics and their willingness to defend their game and employees. This public confrontation by a major gaming company against influential figures like Musk is rare and has been celebrated by the gaming community. It raises questions about the power dynamics between corporations and billionaires in the digital age and whether such defiance could lead to potential repercussions for Ubisoft. The situation underscores the broader industry trend of brand accounts becoming more vocal against hate and manufactured controversies.

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RATING

5.0
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The story provides an engaging narrative that taps into current debates within the gaming community, focusing on Ubisoft's response to criticism and its interaction with high-profile figures like Elon Musk. While the article is timely and has the potential to engage readers, it suffers from a lack of balance and transparency, as it does not provide sufficient context or evidence to support its claims. The absence of credible sources and detailed explanations limits the story's accuracy and impact. Despite these shortcomings, the article effectively captures attention and highlights relevant issues, making it a noteworthy piece within its niche audience.

RATING DETAILS

6
Accuracy

The story makes several factual claims that require verification, particularly around the involvement of high-profile figures like Elon Musk and Ubisoft's response. The claim about the criticism of Assassin's Creed Shadows by the anti-DEI movement for including a black samurai is plausible but needs more specific evidence or citations. The story's reference to Elon Musk's Path of Exile 2 controversy is based on a real incident, but the details provided in the story may not fully align with verified reports. The viral nature of Ubisoft's tweet and its reception in the gaming community is likely exaggerated without clear evidence or specific data to support the numbers cited (e.g., 480,000 likes, 25 million views). Overall, while some claims are based on real events, the lack of detailed sourcing and potential embellishment affects the story's accuracy.

5
Balance

The story primarily presents a one-sided perspective, focusing on Ubisoft's response to criticism and the viral nature of their tweet. It lacks a balanced view by not providing sufficient context or viewpoints from those critical of the game or the anti-DEI movement. The narrative seems to favor Ubisoft's actions and portrays them as a heroic stand against criticism, without delving into the motivations or reasoning behind the opposing perspectives. This lack of balance can skew the reader's understanding of the full scope of the controversy.

7
Clarity

The language and structure of the article are generally clear, allowing readers to follow the narrative easily. The tone is informal and engaging, which may appeal to a broad audience interested in gaming culture. However, the use of colloquial language and references to specific gaming incidents without sufficient context may confuse readers unfamiliar with the subject matter. Despite these issues, the story maintains a coherent flow and presents its points in a straightforward manner.

4
Source quality

The story does not cite any specific sources or provide links to evidence supporting its claims. It mentions high-profile individuals and events but lacks direct quotes or references to credible outlets that would enhance the reliability of the information presented. The absence of authoritative sources or expert opinions diminishes the credibility of the story, making it difficult for readers to assess the truthfulness of the claims.

3
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in its reporting, as it does not disclose sources or provide a clear basis for its claims. There is no explanation of the methodology used to gather information or verify facts, leaving readers without insight into how conclusions were reached. The story also does not address any potential conflicts of interest or biases that may have influenced the reporting, which could affect the impartiality of the content.

Sources

  1. https://www.thegamer.com/assassins-creed-shadows-destroy-shrines-shinto-japan-controversy/
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fleBZ6JNHo
  3. https://www.ign.com/articles/amid-japan-concern-about-assassins-creed-shadows-ubisoft-confirms-day-one-patch-that-makes-tables-and-racks-in-temples-and-shrines-indestructible
  4. https://weheartmusic.typepad.com/blog/2025/03/assassins-creed-shadows-the-controversy.html