The maker of a Assassin's creed Shadows sculpture featuring a torii with only one leg says that the design is 'insensitive.' It will be changed.

The maker of a Assassin's creed Shadows mini featuring Yasuke, Naoe and the rest of the Shadows collective says it will "rework" after receiving feedback on its initial "insensitive" design.

PureArts unveiled this statue in September. To my eye, it was completely innocuous. Funko-esque versions of Yasuke (the co-lead in Assassin's creed Shadows) and Naoe (the co-lead in Assassin’s Creed: Revelations), posed next to a partial torii.

Others quickly pointed out the striking similarity between the torii in this collectible and the one-legged, upright torii outside the Sanno Shrine. This torii is a remnant from the 1945 nuclear attack that devastated the city of Nagasaki. The broken torii is of great historical and cultural importance.

On social media, gamers who were already angry about the inclusion of a Black character in a fantasy-action game set in feudal Japan amplify their criticisms. Legitimate concerns over the sloppy handling of culture have given way to a wider and more vitriolic anger directed at Ubisoft.

PureArts announced today that the design would be changed. In a message on X, the company stated that it had recently released a design that was insensitive. "We have learned and listened to the concerns raised, and we apologize for any harm caused.

"After reading the feedback and processing it, we immediately went back to the drawing board. We are currently reworking on the design of the Qlectors Assassin's Creed: Shadows Yasuke & Naoe. Stay tuned!"

PureArts stated in a subsequent post that preorders had not been canceled and those who preordered would receive an email soon with more information.

Most of the time, this would be a minor issue: Someone chooses an inspiration that seems cool, but someone else finds out it's not awesome, apologies and plans are altered. The reaction to the PureArts reveal and today's announcement about the design changes are something completely different: They remind us of the ugliness surrounding Assassin's Creed Shadows ever since its May reveal.

Some people credit PureArts with doing the right thing. Others remain critical of them and Ubisoft. They want Yasuke removed from Assassin's creed Shadows and blame everything wrong with the game on "wokeness" and diversity. There are also those who are angry that the statue is being changed. They paid for a one legged torii, and they want it back.

Ubisoft is not doing itself any favors when it comes to complaints about sloppiness. It was the second time that Ubisoft had been found to be careless. In July, the company apologized for using a flag of a historical reenactment organization in concept art without their permission. The company's attempts to appease gamers who want a complete rework of Assassin's Creed Shadows have not been successful. They included an acknowledgement that Yasuke's samurai status "is a subject of debate and discussion," and a promise to not "push a specific agenda" by Ubisoft. As senior editor Wes Fenlon stated in July, the company has "given bad-faith critics fresh cover to launch a new wave attacks disguised as 'just answering questions'."

Ubisoft announced that Assassin's Creed Shadows will not be released on November 15 as scheduled, but instead on February 14, 2025. This is a major missed opportunity that will take it out of the lucrative holiday season. It's a bad news for a firm that desperately needs some good news.