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, a support studio for Ubisoft, is accused of mental and physical abuse.
• Recent reports highlight the ongoing need for better protection of workers in the gaming industry.

A recent video report detailing alleged mental and physical abuse at Brandoville Studio, an external support studio that worked on Assassin's Creed Shadows, has prompted a strong response from Ubisoft, who described the allegations as "deeply disturbing." While the abuse did not occur within Ubisoft itself, the incident underscores the broader issue of workplace abuse within the gaming industry.

Abuse in the video game industry is a recurring problem, with past reports detailing harassment, mental and physical abuse, and other serious issues. These reports range from bullying to cases leading to suicidal ideation among developers. A new report from the YouTube channel People Make Games details a particularly egregious case.

The People Make Games video focuses on Brandoville Studio in Indonesia, alleging that Kwan Cherry Lai, the commissioner and wife of the CEO, engaged in extremely toxic and abusive behavior towards employees. The report alleges mental and physical abuse, forced religious worship, severe sleep deprivation, and even forcing an employee, Christa Sydney, to self-harm while filming it. Ubisoft has publicly condemned the abuse, stating their deep concern to Eurogamer.

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 the child.

Brandoville Studio's History and Fate

Founded in 2018 in Indonesia, Brandoville Studio closed in August 2024. Allegations of abuse reportedly date back to 2019. During its operation, the studio contributed to major game releases, including Age of Empires 4 and the upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows. Indonesian authorities are investigating these claims and reportedly seeking to question Kwan Cherry Lai, although she has reportedly left the country, claiming to be in Hong Kong.

The pursuit of justice for Sydney and other alleged victims remains uncertain. The ongoing reports of poor working conditions, abuse, and harassment across the gaming industry, both domestically and internationally, highlight the urgent need for stronger protections for employees and a more robust response to these issues, including addressing online abuse and death threats.