Ubisoft \'Deeply Disturbed\' By Assassin\'s Creed Shadows Support Studio Abuse Allegations

Summary

• Ubisoft responds to allegations of abuse at a support studio.
• Brandoville Studio faces accusations of severe mental and physical abuse.
• Recent incidents underscore the urgent need for stronger employee protections within the gaming industry.

Ubisoft has issued a statement expressing deep concern regarding a recent video report detailing alleged mental and physical abuse at Brandoville Studio, an external support studio that contributed to Assassin's Creed Shadows. While the abuse occurred outside of Ubisoft's direct operations, the company strongly condemns such actions.

Abuse within the video game industry remains a persistent problem, with numerous past reports highlighting harassment, physical and mental abuse, and other serious issues. Examples range from bullying to situations forcing developers to contemplate suicide. The current allegations against Brandoville are sadly yet another example.

A YouTube channel, People Make Games, investigated Brandoville Studio, focusing on the alleged toxic and abusive behavior of Kwan Cherry Lai, the commissioner and wife of the CEO. The report claims Lai subjected employees, including Christa Sydney, to severe abuse, including physical and mental torment, forced religious practices, extreme sleep deprivation, and even coerced self-harm. Ubisoft's response to Eurogamer emphasized its condemnation of all forms of abuse.

Further allegations have emerged from other Brandoville employees, including claims of salary withholding and the overworking of a pregnant employee, resulting in premature birth and the subsequent death of her child.

Brandoville Studio's History and Demise

Founded in 2018 in Indonesia, Brandoville closed its doors in August 2024. Allegations of abuse date back to 2019, a period during which the studio worked on projects such as Age of Empires 4 and Assassin's Creed Shadows. Indonesian authorities are currently investigating these claims and reportedly seeking to question Kwan Cherry Lai, though her current location in Hong Kong presents a challenge.

The pursuit of justice for Sydney and other alleged victims remains uncertain. The gaming industry, both domestically and internationally, continues to grapple with reports of poor working conditions, abuse, and harassment. The need for robust employee protection measures, encompassing both internal and external threats such as online death threats, is undeniably critical.