Assassin's Creed lead Marc-Alexis Coté condemns online harassment and stresses importance of diversity

Marc-Alexis Coté, the lead for the Assassin's Creed franchise, has publicly criticized the online harassment targeting the development team of Assassin's Creed Shadows. According to a report by Eurogamer, Coté emphasized the significance of diversity and denounced efforts to undermine inclusive storytelling.

This statement comes in response to several months of online negativity aimed at the latest Assassin's Creed installment, which has faced scrutiny over its historical accuracy and the representation of Black samurai Yasuke. Coté had previously addressed similar issues, notably responding to negative comments from X owner Elon Musk. However, his recent remarks mark his most comprehensive and robust defense of the game and its development team.

During a BAFTA-organized event, Coté articulated his stance: "Assassin's Creed has always been about exploring the full spectrum of human history, and by its very nature, that history is diverse. Staying true to history means embracing the richness of human perspectives—without compromise. For example, in Assassin's Creed Shadows, we highlight figures both fictional, like Naoe, a Japanese woman warrior, and historical, like Yasuke, the African-born samurai. While the inclusion of a Black samurai in feudal Japan has sparked questions and even controversy, Naoe, as a fictional character, has also faced scrutiny for her gender."

In addition to Coté's comments, Ubisoft CEO has also condemned the personal attacks on developers. Last month, Ubisoft announced a delay in the release of Assassin's Creed Shadows, moving its launch date to February 14, 2025, from the originally planned date next month.