Assassin’s Creed: Shadows will be censored in Japan to comply with CERO  

Ubisoft has announced changes to the Japanese version of Assassin’s Creed: Shadows to meet the standards of CERO, Japan’s video game rating system. 

Despite being rated CERO Z (ages 18 and up), it seems the Japanese version of Assassin’s Creed: Shadows has been forced to tone down the gore. Specifically, depictions of severed heads and limbs will be censored. While the overseas versions of the game will allow players the option to toggle dismemberment, this choice will be removed altogether in the Japanese version. Additionally, visual depictions of cut body surfaces will be altered. 

Curiously, Ubisoft’s announcement also mentions that Shadows’ Japanese version will include modifications to voiced lines compared to its overseas counterparts. No specific explanation has been given as to the nature of the changes, which has left Japanese players confused. 

CERO, Japan’s rating agency, enforces strict guidelines for mature content. These guidelines have a history of causing headaches for both domestic and overseas developers. Scenes of dismemberment seem to be particularly problematic – EA’s Dead Space was infamously denied a CERO rating due to “depictions of cross-sections of severed body parts and internal organs” and thus could not launch on any consoles in Japan. 

It seems things didn’t escalate that far in Ubisoft’s case, but some censorship has been implemented as a result.  

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is scheduled to be released on March 20 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Mac.