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

Ubisoft Responds to Disturbing Allegations of Abuse at External Studio

Ubisoft has issued a statement expressing deep concern regarding allegations of severe mental and physical abuse at Brandoville Studio, an Indonesian outsourcing partner that contributed to Assassin's Creed Shadows. The YouTube channel People Make Games published a video detailing these claims, which include accusations of abusive behavior by Kwan Cherry Lai, the commissioner and wife of Brandoville's CEO.

The report alleges a pattern of abuse, including forced religious practices, sleep deprivation, and even the coercion of an employee, Christa Sydney, into self-harm while being filmed. Further allegations from other Brandoville employees describe salary withholding, overworking a pregnant employee (resulting in premature birth and the subsequent death of the child), and other forms of mistreatment.

Brandoville Studio, founded in 2018, ceased operations in August 2024. While the studio worked on titles such as Age of Empires 4 and Assassin's Creed Shadows, reports of abusive practices reportedly date back to 2019. Indonesian authorities are currently investigating these claims and seeking to question Kwan Cherry Lai, although her current location in Hong Kong presents a challenge.

This incident underscores a persistent problem within the video game industry: the prevalence of harassment, abuse, and poor working conditions. The case highlights the urgent need for stronger employee protections and accountability mechanisms to prevent such horrific events from recurring. The ongoing investigation will determine whether justice will be served for those allegedly harmed. The industry must address these systemic issues to ensure a safer and more ethical work environment for all.