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

Ubisoft Responds to Disturbing Abuse Allegations at External Studio

Ubisoft has issued a statement expressing deep concern regarding allegations of mental and physical abuse at Brandoville Studio, an external support studio that contributed to the development of Assassin's Creed Shadows. The report, detailed in a recent People Make Games YouTube video, paints a disturbing picture of workplace conditions.

While the abuse did not occur within Ubisoft itself, the company strongly condemns such actions. The video alleges that Kwan Cherry Lai, commissioner of the Brandoville team and wife of the CEO, subjected employees to severe mistreatment, including mental and physical abuse, forced religious practices, sleep deprivation, and even compelled self-harm. Further allegations have emerged from other Brandoville employees, detailing salary withholding, overworking a pregnant employee (resulting in premature birth and the subsequent death of the child), and other forms of abuse.

Brandoville Studio, founded in 2018 and based in Indonesia, ceased operations in August 2024. Reports of abusive practices reportedly 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 investigating these claims and reportedly seeking to question Kwan Cherry Lai, though her current location in Hong Kong may complicate matters.

This incident underscores the ongoing issue of abuse and poor working conditions within the video game industry. Numerous reports of harassment, abuse, and even death threats highlight the urgent need for stronger employee protections and accountability mechanisms, both within individual companies and across the industry as a whole. The outcome for the victims of alleged abuse at Brandoville remains uncertain, but the case serves as a stark reminder of the systemic problems that persist.