Ubisoft Responds to Allegations of Abuse at External Support Studio
Ubisoft has issued a statement expressing deep concern regarding a recent video report alleging severe mental and physical abuse at Brandoville Studio, an external support studio that contributed to the development of Assassin's Creed Shadows. While the abuse did not occur within Ubisoft itself, the company strongly condemns such actions and highlights the disturbing prevalence of abuse within the gaming industry.
The YouTube channel People Make Games detailed accusations against Kwan Cherry Lai, Brandoville's commissioner and wife of the CEO. These accusations include allegations of mental and physical abuse, forced religious practices, extreme sleep deprivation, and compelling an employee, Christa Sydney, to self-harm while being filmed. Multiple employees have come forward with similar accounts, including claims of unauthorized salary deductions and the overworking of a pregnant employee, resulting in a premature birth and the subsequent death of the child.
Brandoville Studio, founded in 2018 and based in Indonesia, ceased operations in August 2024. Reports of abusive practices allegedly date back to 2019, during which time the studio collaborated on projects such as Age of Empires 4 and Assassin's Creed Shadows. Indonesian authorities are reportedly investigating these allegations and seeking to question Kwan Cherry Lai, although her current location in Hong Kong presents a challenge.
The ongoing investigation underscores the persistent issue of workplace abuse within the gaming industry, encompassing a range of harmful behaviors from harassment and bullying to severe physical and mental abuse. The case highlights the urgent need for stronger protections and accountability measures to safeguard employees and prevent future incidents, both from internal and external sources, including online harassment and threats. The outcome for Sydney and other alleged victims remains uncertain.
