One Piece’s Mackenyu Makes Video Game Debut in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

For those following the Netflix live-action adaptation of One Piece, the name Mackenyu should sound familiar. The actor behind Roronoa Zoro, who also stars in Knights of the Zodiac and Dragons of Wonderhatch, has been rising in popularity. Now, he is jumping over to video games. Lending both his voice and likeness, Mackenyu will be playing Gennojo in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

A charming individual who crosses paths with Naoe and Yasuke while they are tracking a crucial target, players can recruit Gennojo to join the Shinobi League, aiding in their fight against the forces of corruption that are rampant across the land. Mackenyu will be doing the Japanese and English voice-overs for this character.

“I have fond memories of the franchise. I was in middle school when Assassin’s Creed first came out, and I remember my friends and I would gather at a friend’s house and take turns playing the game,” Mackenyu said. “When I heard that the new Assassin’s Creed game would be set in Japan, I knew that I needed to be part of this project.”

“Mackenyu’s performance added something really special to our game,” said Jonathan Dumont, creative director at Ubisoft Quebec, the lead development studio for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. “His unique energy and charisma breathe life into Gennojo, and we’re eager for players to meet the character and explore his story.”

Adding more star power to a project isn’t a bad thing, and it will be fun to see just how well Mackenyu fares in his first video game role. Of course, the main stars remain Naoe and Yasuke, and as long as the gameplay and story holds up, there will be more time to appreciate what the actor brings to the table.

Available worldwide on March 20, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set in feudal Japan, where the forces of vengeance and mercy collide during the critical events of the country’s unification. The game introduces a novel dual-protagonist system featuring Naoe, a skilful shinobi from Iga, and Yasuke, the powerful African samurai. These characters offer distinct gameplay experiences as their stories intertwine in a world where lines between right and wrong are often blurred.