Assassins creed shadows yasuke gay
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It looks like Assassin’s Creed Shadows isn’t just about stealth, sword fights, and historical accuracy, it’s also about letting players explore connections, whether those connections are with someone of the same gender or different.
In a game where making allies and forming relationships is part of the gameplay, it’s nice to see that the developers didn’t shy away from making these connections as diverse and open as possible.
In the end, so if you’re playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows and wondering if Yasuke’s love life is as bold as his swordplay, well, buckle up.
However, after the game's official release in March 2025, the protagonist's trait was labeled "historically inaccurate," as Yasuke is based on the real story of the only African and first non-Japanese samurai, especially regarding his sexuality, which received backlash on Twitter / X, Reddit and YouTube, among other platforms, as some gamers called it a DEI character, deeming him too "woke."
Background
Rumors about Assassin's Creed: Shadows protagonist Yasuke being LGBTQ+ started on May 22nd, 2024, as shared by the X page @TPPNewsNetwork, which wrote "Ubisoft Appears To Confirm ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Protagonists Yasuke And Naoe Are LGBTQ+." The post (seen below) amassed more than 1.5 million views and 4,000 likes in a year.
On July 18th, 2024, X user @Grummz posted one of the earliest viral mentions of Yasuke as a "gay Black samurai" while commenting on a news article related to same-sex romance options in AC Shadows.
He can also romance Hori Hidemasa, a retainer of the powerful Lord Nobunaga.
Doing so will eventually lead to a dialog option with a Cupid heart, and selecting this will trigger an intimate moment.
The Best Main Story Mission Order in Assassin's Creed Shadows
The best mission order in Assassin's Creed Shadows is based on the recommended level of each Onryo starting quest.
Both Yasuke and Naoe have hetero and same-sex relationships available to them, though players are free to pick and choose which of these they want to pursue.
If players have been regularly flirting with Rin throughout these three quests, they'll eventually have the option to say "I would like to kiss you.", and doing so will lead to an intimate moment between Rin and Yasuke.
Ubisoft always tries to push the envelope and make waves, whether it’s with towering monuments or, you know, throwing an African Samurai into the middle of Feudal Japan in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. If you were already upset about that part, things are about to get a whole lot more, ahem, interesting.
Why?
AC Shadows "Gay Black Samurai" Debate
- Event
- Status
- Submission
- Type:
- Controversy
- Year
- 2024
- Origin
- X / Twitter
- Region
- France
- Tags
- ac shadows, yasuke, meme, assassin's creed, assassin's creed shadows, gay protagonist, lgbtq+, nonbinary, non-binary, yasugay, ac shadows controversies, gaming, video games, black character, memes, discourse, ubisoft
Overview
AC Shadows "Gay Black Samurai" Debate, also known as Assassin's Creed: Shadows LGBTQ+ Protagonists Debate, refers to backlash and discourse targeted at Yasuke, one of the protagonists in the 2025 Assassin's Creed: Shadows (AC Shadows) video game by Ubisoft who is a Black samurai that can explore same-sex relationships with both men and non-binary characters.
Just like Yasuke, Naoe can also dive into same-s*x relationships. After rescuing Gennojo at the beginning of this quest, players will have the option to say "I'd like to embrace you.", which will lead to a romantic moment between Naoe and Gennojo.
Katsuhime (Naoe Romance)
Players will meet Katsuhime as part of the main story, after which, they'll be able to trigger the "Letter from Katsuhime" side quest by speaking with Katsuhime in the Shimmering Fields area of Iga.
"Letter from Katsuhime" will lead to a few more side quests, the last of which is called "The Jounin Pillow Book". So, if you’re mad about one, you’ll have to be mad about this, too.
This opens the door for the potential for some very intimate connections. Yes, you read that right. Wait until you control Naoe. Even if players are playing as Yasuke (they can switch anytime), they need to deepen their relationships with various characters.
I don’t care. In contrast, Yasuke and Naoe are completely separate and both are important to the story. This relationship doesn’t get frisky like Ibuki’s, but it still holds emotional weight. Your opinion is worthless to me. Players will be able to flirt with NPCs at various points throughout the game by choosing dialog options with a heart next to them.
It’s going to be one hell of a ride.
Assassin's Creed Shadows Will Have Queer Romances
Summary
- Assassin's Creed Shadows will have "more developed relationships" than past games. The icon for this one is the same as the one used for regular flirting, though the outcome is very much in keeping with all of the other romantic options in Assassins Creed Shadows.
All Yasuke Romances in Assassin's Creed Shadows
Hori Hidemasa (Yasuke Romance)
Players first meet Hori Hidemasa in the Otsu area of Omi and can speak with him to trigger the "The Betrayers" side quest.
Ubisoft developers had previously hinted in May 2024 that Naoe and Yasuke could be played as LGBTQ+ characters. Upon her return, Koshiro takes Naoe to a place called Lover's Lake, where players will have the option to choose the "Like me." dialog option and trigger an intimate moment.
After completing Ibuki’s questline, the two meet in the forest, exchanging some unforgettable lines while, let’s just say, bonding in a way that takes their connection to a whole new level.
“Do you think someone might see us… Do you care?” And Yasuke’s response is simple: “Not at all.”
But it doesn’t end there.
The old way meant same-sex relationships happened because of the gender you chose, not because they were written that way, whereas Yasuke and Naoe have unique romances individual to their character, meaning that these stories are intentionally queer.
Assassin's Creed Shadows Will Also Feature Platonic Relationships
It's not just romantic relationships you can pursue in Shadows, there will also be plenty of platonic bonds to forge throughout your adventures; "I think something that's unique in Shadows is we're going to have some more developed relationships," Davies said.
Kudos for not shying away from it.