Sachi Schmidt-Hori, an Ivy League professor, initially dismissed an invitation to work on Assassin’s Creed Shadows, believing it to be spam. After confirmation from her university and her husband, she agreed to assist Ubisoft with historical research. Her contributions included verifying details about Buddhist temples and societal norms in 16th-century Japan. As Ubisoft’s trust in her expertise grew, she began analyzing the game’s script for historical inaccuracies and cultural sensitivities. However, after the game’s public reveal, Schmidt-Hori faced backlash from various groups, including Asian men in the West who accused her of being a sellout and anti-diversity equity individuals. Despite the abuse, Schmidt-Hori engaged with some critics, educating them about her work and background. She also confronted a right-wing influencer who spread misinformation about her, leading to the removal of harmful content. Although Ubisoft advised her to ignore the harassment, Schmidt-Hori decided not to renew her contract due to their insufficient support. Reflecting on the experience, she views the backlash as targeting an imagined version of herself rather than her actual person.
— new from Eurogamer
