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

Ubisoft Responds to 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. While the abuse did not occur within Ubisoft itself, the company strongly condemns such actions.

A recent investigative report by the YouTube channel People Make Games details disturbing accounts of abuse perpetrated by Kwan Cherry Lai, the commissioner and wife of Brandoville's CEO. These allegations include mental and physical abuse, forced religious practices, severe sleep deprivation, and even compelling an employee, Christa Sydney, to self-harm while being filmed. Multiple employees have come forward with similar testimonies, including instances of salary withholding and the overworking of a pregnant employee, resulting in premature birth and the subsequent death of the child.

Brandoville Studio, founded in 2018 and based in Indonesia, ceased operations in August 2024. Reports of abusive practices reportedly date back to 2019, during which time the studio worked on projects such as Age of Empires 4 and Assassin's Creed Shadows. Indonesian authorities are investigating these claims and seeking to question Kwan Cherry Lai, who is reportedly currently in Hong Kong.

This incident underscores the ongoing issue of abuse and poor working conditions within the video game industry. The need for stronger employee protections and accountability mechanisms is evident, addressing not only internal workplace misconduct but also the harmful actions of external contractors and the pervasive threat of online harassment. The outcome of the investigation and the pursuit of justice for the alleged victims remain uncertain.