With multiple sequential flops in 2024, Ubisoft seriously need Johnny Somali Simulator, I mean ACS, to succeed. But without removing Yasuke as one of the main protaggonist, I think it's cooked.
In case you're not aware of the Johnny Somali trope, he's a youtuber with no talent to make content. So he resort to making videos of harassing Japanese, and later the S Korean on his youtube channel. His channel essentially record all his crimes committed in these countries, not very bright. He was deported from Japan before embarking to S Korea. Now he's facing 4 charges in Korean court, facing sentence of 1-5 years in prison. Let's see if this time he will be locked up or get deported.
Return to ACS. HistoryAccurateDevelopers has debut their Yasuke Simulator that will be launched on the same day as ACS. They;ve a demo available for download on Steam.
About the game on Steam page:
In a land where samurai roam and power is defined by the sword, Yasuke—the only African warrior to rise to the ranks of the samurai—steps into the pages of history like a walking plot twist. It’s 1579, and Yasuke’s arrival in Japan alongside Jesuit missionary. Join Oda Nobunaga and help him unite all of Japan.
Features
🗡️Play as Yasuke
Embrace your unique heritage as you navigate feudal Japan in a fight for survival and dignity.
⚔️Master Epic Samurai Combat
Wield your katana with style, precision, and flair, slashing through waves of adversaries.
🔥Unleash Your Inner Warrior
Tap into your ancestral power to perform devastating moves and awaken the latent strength that transcends time.
🛡️Find Secret Gear across the Map
The map is full of secret gear that you can find and use against your enemies
📜Historically accuracy
The Yasuke simulator team has done its research and went above and beyond to provide a totally historically accurate depiction of Feudal Japan with Yasuke the Samurai.
Japanese lawmaker and Shinto shrine official spoke out against Ubisoft. They're not happy with Yasuke being able to rampage the shrine.
Reportedly, it's speculated that ACS may cost over $400 mil to make, including marketing cost. They spent a lot on marketing. If this is true, or even half-true, ACS will need to be massively successful just to recoup investment. If game store takes 30% cut, at $70 price tag, ACS need to sell 8 mil copies to break even if it cost $400 mil to make. Put things in perspective, BMWK development cost is about $43 mil, including marketing cost totaling about $70 mil.
Ubisoft has a plan B in work. Besides talking to Microsoft and EA in selling their IP, they're also looking at creating a joint game entity with Tencent that hold its most valuable IP, including Assassin Creed. It seem to me Ubisoft is in the Titanic mode. They know they're going to hit the iceberg but it's too late for them to change course.