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Ubisoft Ensures AC Syndicate Is Safe From The PC Police

I'm not sure how many transgender individuals were wandering around late-19th century England but hey, inclusiveness has to be a priority or you will suffer the consequences in this world.

Ubisoft is avoiding any problems by making sure the upcoming Assassin's Creed Syndicate is as politically correct and "progressive" as humanly possible.

As creative director Marc-Alexis Côté told Eurogamer in a recent interview, the new AC adventure will boast the franchise's first transgender character. His name is Ned Wynert and he'll be an NPC that gives you a quest. Said Côté:

"Inclusiveness is something that's super important for us as a team. We've made a good push towards diversity and how we approach different subjects in the game."

Obviously, this is in response to last year's criticism of Assassin's Creed Unity . People had a problem at the lack of female playable characters (I guess we're going to have to have two protagonists in each game now), despite the fact that one character – Elise – was a hugely critical part of the plot.

And of course, we will have a playable male and female character in Syndicate . Furthermore, Ubisoft made certain to amend the disclaimer for the game. It now reads: "Inspired by historical events and characters, this work of fiction was designed, developed, and produced by a multicultural team of various beliefs, sexual orientations, and gender identities." The last two were recently added.

Well, at least they'll be free from criticism this year. …that is, until they get flak for not having a playable transgender character.

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Temjin001
Temjin001
8 years ago

This is simply a diversion to what matters most to gamers.
What's the resolution and what's the frame rate?

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
8 years ago

"This is simply a diversion to what matters most"

You could've just stopped right there.

Neo_Aeon666
Neo_Aeon666
8 years ago

To me it's more than just a diversion. It feels like they think: Ok we got all the normal people in the bag and that group of people that like to complain and don't really play might be more sales!

What scares me is that they might stop putting things in there that would attract normal people since they want to lick the boots of the smaller crowds of transgenders or neo-feminists…

I am using the term normal people for us because normality is defined by the majority and in that light, straight people that know who they are and like beautiful people is the majority.

So yeah I am now very cautious of what I purchase in games since it now seems even buying a game now amounts to supporting causes that I might not even agree with (since they make it a selling point…)

Draguss
Draguss
8 years ago

You know, trying to be inclusive for its own sake can be pretty difficult. When you try to write a character with a different sexual orientation or gender identity than the majority, it's hard to think of how much that would affect them as a character outside of the societal implications.

Suppose you decide you want a gay male character in the story. Should he be campy, or would that be considered just a stereotype? But if he's not noticeably gay aside from just being into guys, are you really portraying a gay person? In what way does it affect the story? Should it? After all, a straight character being straight isn't exactly a plot point. Shouldn't a gay character be treated the same? But then is there any point to just choosing for a character to be gay? Is it right to do that just for the sake of being inclusive?

These are all fairly silly concerns when you look them over again, a gay character is gay and that's all there is to it. Plus I doubt that much thought actually goes into the writing of this series. But it's understandable why people don't often include lgbt characters. Most people are straight and cisgendered and straight, and most people around them are like that. We tend to not even consider the idea of lgbt characters, not out of some sense of malice or hatred towards them, but simply because it's what seems normal to us. Unless you go to places specifically frequented by gay guys, meeting one is a pretty rare event.

Yeah this doesn't actually comment much on the actual topic, but I just wrote it all by this point.

souljah92
souljah92
8 years ago

Why even bother acknowledging the people crying about such bullshit

FAREEZ
FAREEZ
8 years ago

Next AC game we will play as shemale character…

souljah92
souljah92
8 years ago

LOL I know right, or we'll play as one of those confused me that wanna be identified as female so he can be a lesbian

Voyager236
Voyager236
8 years ago

R.I.P. Assassin's Creed. From the announcement, nothing called my attention about this syndicate game. Before, all trailers attracted me a lot…now, even political correctness is dominating the franchise. What about modern day story? Assassin's fighting against templars nowdays? Desmond and his companions destiny? Nothing said about them. It's seems is just another slot machine full of DLCs with useless and repetitive missions driving a carriage.

Ather
Ather
8 years ago

Here's a solution. Make the next game's character some unisex name. Then let players choose male or female. Same game, just with different genders. Avoid any relationships, and let players select a fill in at the start for random dialogue where the assassin says I'm gay/bi/trans/crabperson. maybe they comment on how hot NPC male or female is.

Ather
Ather
8 years ago

OK, time to be a big baby (read: Not serious) but I demand a Jewish Assassin. How many Assassins have been Jewish, hmmm? Ubisoft is not inclusive if they screw over major religions.

Serious: enough with this suck up inclusiveness. When someone does this, I never think Oh how enlightened they are. So inclusive. I think haters trying to cover up their hate. It's just Oh I'm not racist. I have an (nonwasp) friend.

souljah92
souljah92
8 years ago

Jews have been assassinating our pockets for generations

TheOldOne
TheOldOne
8 years ago

The franchise is so repetitive that they need to announce an ok to know thing that makes the game nothing more special.

Bio
Bio
8 years ago

I like how the 'gaming community' gets their collective panties in a bunch any time a developer focuses on anything that isn't white dudes. "If they're not catering directly to us, it must be POLITICAL CORRECTNESS!"

wackazoa
wackazoa
8 years ago

It sets the "gamers arent just fat dude in their parents basements" arguement back ever time they do.

souljah92
souljah92
8 years ago

Because people were up in arms about playing as adewale and avelines black asses

Bio
Bio
8 years ago

The neckbeards tolerate minority characters so long as they have minority roles. Make a black woman the lead character of the next Assassin's Creed game and you bet your sweet booty the gamergate morons will rage.

wackazoa
wackazoa
8 years ago

"I'm not sure how many transgender individuals were wandering around late-19th century England but hey, inclusiveness has to be a priority or you will suffer the consequences in this world."

Well considering that there was a transgender Roman Emperor… I say it's safe to assume that there were probably a FEW transgender individuals walking around.

* Elagabalus was the Emperor's name.

You should try to be less discrimatory, you wont look as bad.

Bio
Bio
8 years ago

I think a lot of people forget, or never knew, that our modern views on things like sexuality and gender are relatively recent religious constructs. Homosexuality and other things we consider 'abnormal' or 'immoral' today were totally chill back in places like ancient Greece, Rome, etc.

It shouldn't be a big deal to have a transgender character in a game, and the people who have a problem with it and want to whine about 'political correctness' should just get over it. The world doesn't have to constantly reflect your view and only your view, it's big enough for everyone.

Axe99
Axe99
8 years ago

Well posted – Victorian England actually had a bunch of people who would have been considered 'deviant' at the time – this sexuality stuff has been around forever, so including it in games makes a lot of sense (unsurprisingly, the real world is a tiny bit more complicated than the 'mainstream' structure of society propagated by Fox News et al a very limited way to do things).

That said, it is the case that some properties try 'too hard' to be inclusive, and that you get people reacting to things overly strongly (no female playable character in AC:Unity was just fine – there was no male playable character in AC3:Liberation) – but it's actually the same emotional response as reacting overly strongly to the inclusion of various folk.

So I'd just chill and roll on – it's fine to have transgender in, and far from strange or inappropriate, and not worth getting excited about, just like it's fine to have one playable character who happens to only have one sexuality!

Beamboom
Beamboom
8 years ago

These three posts contain the only words worth reading on this page.

FAREEZ
FAREEZ
5 years ago

Next AC game we will play as shemale character…

Ben Dutka PSXE
Ben Dutka PSXE
5 years ago

"This is simply a diversion to what matters most"

You could&#39ve just stopped right there.

souljah92
souljah92
5 years ago

Why even bother acknowledging the people crying about such bullshit

Voyager236
Voyager236
5 years ago

R.I.P. Assassin&#39s Creed. From the announcement, nothing called my attention about this syndicate game. Before, all trailers attracted me a lot…now, even political correctness is dominating the franchise. What about modern day story? Assassin&#39s fighting against templars nowdays? Desmond and his companions destiny? Nothing said about them. It&#39s seems is just another slot machine full of DLCs with useless and repetitive missions driving a carriage.

souljah92
souljah92
5 years ago

LOL I know right, or we&#39ll play as one of those confused me that wanna be identified as female so he can be a lesbian

souljah92
souljah92
5 years ago

Jews have been assassinating our pockets for generations

Draguss
Draguss
5 years ago

You know, trying to be inclusive for its own sake can be pretty difficult. When you try to write a character with a different sexual orientation or gender identity than the majority, it&#39s hard to think of how much that would affect them as a character outside of the societal implications.

Suppose you decide you want a gay male character in the story. Should he be campy, or would that be considered just a stereotype? But if he&#39s not noticeably gay aside from just being into guys, are you really portraying a gay person? In what way does it affect the story? Should it? After all, a straight character being straight isn&#39t exactly a plot point. Shouldn&#39t a gay character be treated the same? But then is there any point to just choosing for a character to be gay? Is it right to do that just for the sake of being inclusive?

These are all fairly silly concerns when you look them over again, a gay character is gay and that&#39s all there is to it. Plus I doubt that much thought actually goes into the writing of this series. But it&#39s understandable why people don&#39t often include lgbt characters. Most people are straight and cisgendered and straight, and most people around them are like that. We tend to not even consider the idea of lgbt characters, not out of some sense of malice or hatred towards them, but simply because it&#39s what seems normal to us. Unless you go to places specifically frequented by gay guys, meeting one is a pretty rare event.

Yeah this doesn&#39t actually comment much on the actual topic, but I just wrote it all by this point.

souljah92
souljah92
5 years ago

Because people were up in arms about playing as adewale and avelines black asses

Temjin001
Temjin001
5 years ago

This is simply a diversion to what matters most to gamers.
What&#39s the resolution and what&#39s the frame rate?

Neo_Aeon666
Neo_Aeon666
5 years ago

To me it&#39s more than just a diversion. It feels like they think: Ok we got all the normal people in the bag and that group of people that like to complain and don&#39t really play might be more sales!

What scares me is that they might stop putting things in there that would attract normal people since they want to lick the boots of the smaller crowds of transgenders or neo-feminists…

I am using the term normal people for us because normality is defined by the majority and in that light, straight people that know who they are and like beautiful people is the majority.

So yeah I am now very cautious of what I purchase in games since it now seems even buying a game now amounts to supporting causes that I might not even agree with (since they make it a selling point…)

wackazoa
wackazoa
5 years ago

It sets the "gamers arent just fat dude in their parents basements" arguement back ever time they do.

TheOldOne
TheOldOne
5 years ago

The franchise is so repetitive that they need to announce an ok to know thing that makes the game nothing more special.

Axe99
Axe99
5 years ago

Well posted – Victorian England actually had a bunch of people who would have been considered &#39deviant&#39 at the time – this sexuality stuff has been around forever, so including it in games makes a lot of sense (unsurprisingly, the real world is a tiny bit more complicated than the &#39mainstream&#39 structure of society propagated by Fox News et al a very limited way to do things).

That said, it is the case that some properties try &#39too hard&#39 to be inclusive, and that you get people reacting to things overly strongly (no female playable character in AC:Unity was just fine – there was no male playable character in AC3:Liberation) – but it&#39s actually the same emotional response as reacting overly strongly to the inclusion of various folk.

So I&#39d just chill and roll on – it&#39s fine to have transgender in, and far from strange or inappropriate, and not worth getting excited about, just like it&#39s fine to have one playable character who happens to only have one sexuality!

Ather
Ather
5 years ago

Here&#39s a solution. Make the next game&#39s character some unisex name. Then let players choose male or female. Same game, just with different genders. Avoid any relationships, and let players select a fill in at the start for random dialogue where the assassin says I&#39m gay/bi/trans/crabperson. maybe they comment on how hot NPC male or female is.

Ather
Ather
5 years ago

OK, time to be a big baby (read: Not serious) but I demand a Jewish Assassin. How many Assassins have been Jewish, hmmm? Ubisoft is not inclusive if they screw over major religions.

Serious: enough with this suck up inclusiveness. When someone does this, I never think Oh how enlightened they are. So inclusive. I think haters trying to cover up their hate. It&#39s just Oh I&#39m not racist. I have an (nonwasp) friend.

Bio
Bio
5 years ago

The neckbeards tolerate minority characters so long as they have minority roles. Make a black woman the lead character of the next Assassin&#39s Creed game and you bet your sweet booty the gamergate morons will rage.

wackazoa
wackazoa
5 years ago

"I&#39m not sure how many transgender individuals were wandering around late-19th century England but hey, inclusiveness has to be a priority or you will suffer the consequences in this world."

Well considering that there was a transgender Roman Emperor… I say it&#39s safe to assume that there were probably a FEW transgender individuals walking around.

* Elagabalus was the Emperor&#39s name.

You should try to be less discrimatory, you wont look as bad.

Beamboom
Beamboom
5 years ago

These three posts contain the only words worth reading on this page.

Bio
Bio
5 years ago

I like how the &#39gaming community&#39 gets their collective panties in a bunch any time a developer focuses on anything that isn&#39t white dudes. "If they&#39re not catering directly to us, it must be POLITICAL CORRECTNESS!"

Bio
Bio
5 years ago

I think a lot of people forget, or never knew, that our modern views on things like sexuality and gender are relatively recent religious constructs. Homosexuality and other things we consider &#39abnormal&#39 or &#39immoral&#39 today were totally chill back in places like ancient Greece, Rome, etc.

It shouldn&#39t be a big deal to have a transgender character in a game, and the people who have a problem with it and want to whine about &#39political correctness&#39 should just get over it. The world doesn&#39t have to constantly reflect your view and only your view, it&#39s big enough for everyone.

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