Ubisoft Shocked by Alleged Abuse at Assassin's Creed Studio

Summary

• Ubisoft responds to disturbing allegations of abuse at a contracted support studio.
• Brandoville Studio, a contractor, faces accusations of severe mental and physical abuse.
• The gaming industry's ongoing struggle with abuse underscores the urgent need for stronger employee protections.

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 did not occur within Ubisoft itself, the incident highlights the persistent problem of workplace misconduct in the gaming industry.

The gaming industry has a troubling history of reports concerning harassment, abuse, and other serious issues, including instances of bullying driving developers to suicidal thoughts. A YouTube channel, People Make Games, investigated allegations of extreme toxicity and abuse at Brandoville Studio in Indonesia. The report centers on Kwan Cherry Lai, the wife of Brandoville's CEO, who allegedly subjected employees, including Christa Sydney, to horrific treatment. This included mental and physical abuse, forced religious practices, severe sleep deprivation, and even compelling Sydney to self-harm while recording it. Ubisoft's response to Eurogamer strongly condemns this behavior.

Further allegations have emerged from other Brandoville employees, detailing financial exploitation and the overworking of a pregnant employee, resulting in premature birth and the tragic loss of her child.

Brandoville Studio's History and Demise

Founded in 2018 in Indonesia, Brandoville Studio ceased operations in August 2024. Allegations of abuse reportedly date back to 2019. During its operational years, the studio worked on several high-profile titles, including Age of Empires 4 and Assassin's Creed Shadows. Indonesian authorities are investigating these claims and reportedly seek to question Kwan Cherry Lai, although her current location in Hong Kong complicates matters.

The pursuit of justice for Sydney and other alleged victims remains uncertain. The persistent reports of poor working conditions, abuse, and harassment within the gaming industry, both domestically and internationally, underscore the critical need for comprehensive measures to safeguard employees from all forms of workplace misconduct, including online threats.