Masumi, who stars in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, shared what it means to be involved in a franchise of such epic proportions. She plays Naoe, a deadly assassin, whose story runs parallel to that of Yasuke, the samurai portrayed by Tongayi Chirisa.

Speaking from the red carpet at the BAFTA Games Awards, Masumi reflected on the process of stepping into the role: “There’s so much to learn, and I’m just really honored to be part of it, especially because it’s a Japanese story. I just want to sit back and soak it all in—that’s kind of how I feel.”

She revealed that becoming a video game character had long been a dream of hers, but she hadn’t realized the full scale of the Assassin’s Creed franchise when she first joined the project. “Finding out what Assassin’s Creed is was one of the most surreal moments for me. I didn’t know before. I didn’t play video games. Then I thought, ‘Oh, I’m a video game character. Great.’ I always wanted to do this.”

“It’s bigger than me”

For Masumi, the role carries a meaning that goes far beyond gender. “It’s an honor. It’s just bigger than myself.”

While Naoe isn’t the first female assassin in the Assassin’s Creed universe, it’s refreshing to see more women take the lead as the series evolves. But according to Masumi, the response from fans has gone much deeper than gender representation. “You know what? I’m actually getting more messages from people who are half-Japanese or a quarter-Japanese, saying they feel seen. That touches me so much. It’s very sweet.”

Naoe’s journey is now available to players in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, but there’s always a chance her story isn’t finished just yet.

Source: Gamingbible