Ubisoft Responds to Disturbing Abuse Allegations at External Studio
Ubisoft has issued a statement expressing deep concern over allegations of severe mental and physical abuse at Brandoville Studio, an Indonesian outsourcing partner that contributed to 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 occurred outside of Ubisoft's direct operations, the company strongly condemns such actions. The video alleges that Kwan Cherry Lai, the commissioner and wife of Brandoville's CEO, engaged in a pattern of abusive behavior toward employees, including instances of physical and mental abuse, forced religious practices, sleep deprivation, and even compelled self-harm. Multiple employees have corroborated these claims, citing financial exploitation and the overworking of a pregnant employee who subsequently experienced a premature birth and infant loss.
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 several high-profile titles including Age of Empires 4 and Assassin's Creed Shadows. Indonesian authorities are investigating these claims and reportedly seeking to question Kwan Cherry Lai, although her current location in Hong Kong presents a challenge.
This incident underscores the ongoing problem of abuse and poor working conditions within the video game industry. Numerous reports of harassment, bullying, and even death threats highlight the urgent need for stronger employee protections and accountability mechanisms, both within individual studios and across the industry as a whole. The pursuit of justice for the alleged victims at Brandoville remains uncertain.
