HANOVER, N.H. — Sachi Schmidt-Hori, an associate professor specializing in Japanese literature and culture at Dartmouth College, found herself at the center of a social media storm despite never having played the game in question. Engaged as a narrative consultant for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Schmidt-Hori faced a barrage of online harassment following the game’s promotional trailer release, though she chose to counteract the negativity by responding with kindness.
The game, set in 16th century Japan, features a Japanese assassin named Naoe and a Black African samurai, Yasuke. The inclusion of Yasuke sparked outrage among some players, who decried it as an excessive push towards “wokeness.” Consequently, Schmidt-Hori became a target for disgruntled fans, who attacked her via online forums, left derogatory reviews on her academic work, and flooded her inbox with vitriolic messages. Some delved into her research background on gender and sexuality, while others even unearthed and mocked her husband’s name.
The criticism persisted despite the historical reality that Yasuke did exist, with some claiming the narrative choice aimed to erase Asian male representation. Although Schmidt-Hori’s role was limited to researching historical customs and reviewing scripts, the digital community found in her a person to blame.
Despite being advised by Ubisoft and friends to ignore the harassment, Schmidt-Hori drew inspiration from the legacy of civil rights leader John Lewis and chose to address the negative attention by causing “good trouble.” Her approach involved reaching out to her detractors directly and proposing dialogues through Zoom calls, inquiring about their reasons for anger.
One particular influencer, known for opposing diversity and inclusion, never replied to Schmidt-Hori but did remove the derogatory commentary after she questioned the implications of his narrative. On the other hand, some detractors expressed remorse for their actions. One apologetic message reflected deep regret over the harassment directed at her.
Among those who sought dialogue with Schmidt-Hori was Anik Talukder, a 28-year-old from the UK, who had initially criticized the choice of Yasuke as a protagonist on Reddit. After conversing with Schmidt-Hori, he recognized the need for a more inclusive representation in Western media and acknowledged his mistake in unwarrantedly targeting her.
Ubisoft, while declining interviews, reaffirmed its commitment to examining historical contexts and collaborating with experts for creative works. The company denounced harassment and praised Schmidt-Hori’s contributions to the project.
Kate Mays, a public communication assistant professor at the University of Vermont, commended Schmidt-Hori’s strategy to counteract the toxic online environment, describing it as a novel approach to dissuading digital hostility by fostering personal communication. Schmidt-Hori, in diverging from typical retreat strategies, broke the cycle of anonymity-fueled aggression, encouraging others to recognize her humanity.