PS5 Exclusive Rise of the Ronin Canceled in One Region

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PS5 Exclusive Rise of the Ronin Canceled in One Region [UPDATE]

Rise of the Ronin

By Charming Holiday

Published Feb 14, 2024

UPDATE 2/15: Sony has clarified that Rise of the Ronin was never announced for release in South Korea.

Original story follows.

Due to a comment made by director Fumuhiko Yasuda, all physical and digital releases of Rise of the Ronin have been canceled in South Korea. The upcoming Japanese action RPG has been drumming up excitement among fans, but players in Korea will no longer be able to look forward to the game's launch.

Scheduled to release on March 22, Rise of the Ronin will take players to the final years of the Japanese Edo period, where they will set off on a roleplaying adventure. In spite of positive fan and critical reception to trailers and gameplay footage, Sony has already made the decision to cancel the game in Korea due to an unexpected controversy.

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Classic Assassin's Creed Fans Should Keep An Eye on Rise of the Ronin

The latest State of Play trailer for Rise of the Ronin showcases some features that are very similar to classic Assassin's Creed titles.

First reported by Eurogamer, Sony Interactive Entertainment Korea recently released a statement regarding the cancelation of digital and physical releases of Rise of the Ronin in South Korea. While the original statement did not give a reason for the move, many are speculating that a comment made by the game's director, Fumuhiko Yasuda, caused unforeseen backlash from Korean fans. During a recently released behind the scenes video, Yasuda showcased the Soka Sonjuku School and positively remarked about its controversial founder, Shoin Yoshida, whose teachings were utilized by supporters of Imperial Japan and the Japanese Occupation of Korea. Though the unique setting of Rise of the Ronin has been praised by many fans, the inclusion of this particular location has received negative responses from Korean players, in tandem with the remark from Yasuda.

Why the Rise of the Ronin Director's Comment is Controversial

While Yasuda showcased gameplay of Rise of the Ronin, he included showing the Shoka Sonjuku School. The original school was founded by Shoin Yoshida - an influential scholar whose teachings were utilized as core tenets of the eventual re-establishment of Imperial Japan. During the showcase, Yasuda said of Yoshida: "He wasn't just a philosopher. He insisted on the importance of taking action." This ideology, however, would fuel the eventual Japanese invasion and occupation of Korea. As such, many Korean fans felt that Yasuda's comment was supporting the actions of Imperial Japan and its damage to Korea and its citizens, sparking outcry among Korean media and the public, which led Sony to canceling Rise of the Ronin in South Korea.

At the time of writing, neither Sony nor Yasuda have provided any follow-up statements regarding the controversy, so it is unknown if the impact will spread beyond Korea. While Korean fans may no longer be anticipating the release of Rise of the Ronin, international audiences seem to remain optimistic about the Japanese RPG. Only time will tell if Rise of the Ronin lives up to expectations or if this unexpected controversy will hinder its success.