Assassin’s Creed Shadows (AC Shadows) receives a CERO Z rating from Japan’s game rating organization, removing dismemberment and decapitation. Read to learn more about how this affects AC Shadows in Japan and overseas.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Receives CERO Z Game Rating In Japan
Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Japanese Version Removes Dismemberment And Decapitation
Ubisoft Japan announced on Twitter (X) that Assassin’s Creed Shadows received a CERO Z rating from Japan’s video game rating organization, the Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO). As a result, there will be differences in content between the overseas versions (North America/Europe), and the Japanese versions.
The Japanese version of the game will completely remove dismemberment and decapitation, as well as change depictions of wounds and severed body parts. There will also be some changes in the Japanese audio played in the overseas version of the game, though they have not been mentioned which parts specifically.
The overseas version of AC Shadows will allow users to toggle the depictions of dismemberment and decapitation of the game in the options menu.
Assassin’s Creed Rated CERO Z In Japan, Only Suitable For 18+ Ages
A CERO Z rating means that the content of the game has been deemed only suitable for 18+ audiences, and therefore cannot be sold or distributed to 17-year-olds and below. CERO’s ratings are based on 4 categories namely: sex-related, violence, anti-social acts, and language and ideology expression.
Video games that violate CERO’s content guidelines will not be rated by the organization. CERO requires developers to modify their games to comply with these guidelines. While the statement mentions depictions of excessive violence, it does not specify other aspects of AC Shadows that may have led to the CERO Z rating.
This isn’t the first time the series has faced pushback from the rating board. In fact, most Assassin’s Creed games have been given a CERO Z rating, due to their violent nature and themes, such as AC Valhalla and AC Origins.
CERO has long been critical of elements of gore and dismemberment in games, which has been an ongoing issue for games that have tried to release in Japan. Several companies have refused to comply with CERO’s ratings and simply did not sell their game in Japan. For example, in 2022, The Callisto Protocol canceled its Japan release after not receiving a CERO rating. Developer Striking Distance and publisher Krafton thought that the changes required by CERO would "not provide the experience players expect."
Similarly, EA Motive's Dead Space Remake in 2023 also did not receive a CERO game rating in Japan. EA Japan’s General Manager Shaun Noguchi expressed his frustrations on CERO’s decisions, especially as Stellar Blade, a game that also depicted excessive violence, received a rating from the organization.
Changes In Yasuke's Description In Game Store Pages
AC Shadows also saw a change in how Yasuke, one of the main protagonists, is described. In the Steam store and PS store listing of the game, when using the Japanese language for the pages, the term samurai (侍), which was initially used to describe Yasuke, has been replaced with "騎当千" or "Ikki tousen," which means "a warrior who can face a thousand enemies." This comes after Ubisoft received backlash in 2024 on the inclusion of Yasuke being described as "the black samurai", which is a point of contention in Japanese history and culture.
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot previously addressed this issue, and said that "I want to reaffirm that we are an entertainment-first company, creating games for the broadest possible audience, and our goal is not to push any specific agenda." Assassin’s Creed games have been consistently using historical figures in their storylines such as the Pope or Queen Victoria, so this issue is nothing new for the developers.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to release on March 20, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Check out our Assassin’s Creed Shadows page to know more about the game.
Source:
Ubisoft Japan’s Twitter (X) Post on AC Shadows Japan Game Rating
CERO Game Rating Guidelines
