A recent report from Game File indicates that Ubisoft has decided to cancel an Assassin’s Creed title that was set during the American Civil War, specifically during the Reconstruction era. This decision follows significant backlash related to the depiction of Yasuke, a Black samurai in the franchise’s latest installment, Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

The game was intended to follow a formerly enslaved Black man who fights against the rising tide of the Ku Klux Klan after moving west to carve out a new life. Although it was still in the conceptual phase and years away from their intended launch, the decision was heavily influenced by the current political climate in the U.S. and the reactions from various community segments regarding the themes it would tackle.

While the developers were reportedly excited about the game and recognized its potential to foster positive conversations regarding historical injustices, Ubisoft leadership ultimately deemed it too controversial amidst fears of exacerbating societal tensions, particularly in light of recent regression in civil rights discussions in the U.S. The cancellation was made as Ubisoft faced broader difficulties, including financial challenges and layoffs.