Assassin's Creed Shadows has only just released, but social media websites like X (formerly Twitter) are already flooded with misinformation about the game — most of which is being perpetuated by accounts looking to stir the ever-profitable 'controversy' pot.
In particular, it's Shadows' romance system that's caught the eye of these seemingly obsessive users. Both playable characters, Naoe and Yasuke, are able to enter romantic relationships with specific, secondary members of the cast — and it's all entirely optional, just like it was in Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Assassin's Creed Valhalla.
Except these accounts are making out like romance is not optional. In one example of the system, Yasuke can get together with Ibuki — who happens to be a non-binary character — and this is the relationship that's being passed around social media and YouTube, as if it's an integral part of the story.
But again, this is misinformation for the sake of engagement and riling certain people up. Yasuke will only romance Ibuki if you consistently choose the clearly marked 'flirt' dialogue options when speaking to them. Otherwise, the two characters will simply enjoy a healthy friendship.
It's taken a viral post from YouTuber Mightykeef to set the record straight, correctly pointing out that this is a completely optional romance. Said post got so much traction that the official Assassin's Creed account quoted it, reiterating that it's all up to the player.
If you want info on Assassin's Creed Shadows that's actually reliable, we'd recommend taking a look at our Assassin's Creed Shadows guide. And yes, this is an utterly shameless plug.