After inadvertently utilising the Sekigahara Teppo-tai infantryman reenactment group's banner when developing Assassin's Creed Shadows, Ubisoft issued an apology to them. Controversy surrounds the upcoming mainstream instalment of the venerable Assassin's Creed franchise already. But now that one of the flags used in the concept art of the game may have violated the design rights of a local troupe, Ubisoft has now come under fire.

Ever since the series' launch, Assassin's Creed enthusiasts have been calling for a mainstream instalment that takes place in medieval Japan. For numerous players, it appeared like a surefire way to succeed. The ability of a creative team to combine captivating gameplay with Japanese designs was demonstrated in earlier video games. Moreover, Japan was already well-known for being the birthplace of the cunning and secretive shinobi archetype, which would naturally fit into the larger plot of the Assassin's Creed series. Fans felt that these elements made medieval Japan the ideal setting for crafting Assassin's Creed Shadows, a genuinely remarkable work of historical fiction.

Unfortunately, people discovered that one of the flags in two Assassin's Creed Shadows concept art pieces bore an eerie resemblance to the official banner of a completely other clan, which caused problems for Ubisoft in their attempts to accurately recreate the Sengoku Jidai period. The Sekigahara Teppo-tai infantryman reenactment group has now received an official apologies from the developer for the inadvertent usage of the group's banner. The banner had been taken off from Ubisoft's website and other digital platforms, the company stated. While acknowledging that certain pictures in the art book included in the printed version of Assassin's Creed Shadows Collector's Edition will still use the flag, the developer also promised that the asset would not be utilised again while it was being developed.

According to reports, Ubisoft apologised to the Sekigaraha Teppo-tai infantryman reenactment group, and they accepted. The troupe's member @matchlock_kage on Twitter also verified that the developer had been in touch with them to issue an official apology. The participant expressed relief when Ubisoft acknowledged that it had erred in resetting the Assassin's Creed Shadows time period. They also maintained a positive outlook on the unintentional infraction, saying that even if the situation was not ideal, the occurrence succeeded in bringing attention to the troupe.

With Assassin's Creed Shadows' release just a few months away, it makes sense that Ubisoft would want to head off any potential scandals. especially considering that Yasuke, one of the main characters in Assassin's Creed Shadows, has already drawn criticism from gamers on the internet, with some saying he shouldn't have been a main character.