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 severe mental and physical abuse at Brandoville Studio, an Indonesian outsourcing partner that contributed to the development of Assassin's Creed Shadows. The YouTube channel People Make Games published a video detailing these accusations, which include claims of forced religious practices, sleep deprivation, and self-harm coercion by Kwan Cherry Lai, the studio's commissioner and wife of the CEO. Multiple employees have corroborated these claims, adding further allegations of wage theft and the overworking of a pregnant employee, resulting in a premature birth and the subsequent death of the child.

This incident underscores a persistent problem within the video game industry: the prevalence of abuse and harassment. While the abuse occurred at a studio external to Ubisoft, the report highlights the need for stronger protections and accountability across the entire industry. Previous reports have documented a range of issues, from bullying to death threats, impacting the well-being of game developers.

Brandoville Studio, founded in 2018, ceased operations in August 2024. Allegations of abuse reportedly date back to 2019, during which time the studio worked on projects including Age of Empires 4 and Assassin's Creed Shadows. Indonesian authorities are investigating these claims and seeking to question Kwan Cherry Lai, though her current location in Hong Kong presents a challenge.

The long-term consequences for victims and the potential for justice remain uncertain. The ongoing reports of poor working conditions, abuse, and harassment across the global game development landscape necessitate a significant industry-wide effort to improve employee safety and well-being. This includes addressing both internal workplace issues and external threats, such as online harassment.