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

Ubisoft Responds to Disturbing Abuse Allegations at Indonesian Support Studio

Ubisoft has issued a statement expressing deep concern over allegations of severe 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 occurred outside of Ubisoft's direct operations, the company strongly condemns such actions and highlights the ongoing issue of abuse within the broader video game industry. The video alleges that Kwan Cherry Lai, the commissioner and wife of Brandoville's CEO, engaged in a pattern of abusive behavior towards employees, including allegations of physical and mental abuse, forced religious practices, extreme sleep deprivation, and even coercing an employee, Christa Sydney, into self-harm while recording it.

Further allegations have emerged from other Brandoville employees, describing financial exploitation and the overworking of a pregnant employee, resulting in a premature birth and the subsequent death of the child.

Brandoville's History and the Ongoing Investigation

Founded in 2018 and based in Indonesia, Brandoville Studio ceased operations in August 2024. Reports of abuse allegedly date back to 2019, during which time the studio worked on several high-profile projects, including Age of Empires 4 and Assassin's Creed Shadows. Indonesian authorities are now investigating these claims and reportedly seeking to question Kwan Cherry Lai, although her current location in Hong Kong presents a challenge.

The situation underscores the persistent problem of workplace abuse in the gaming industry, ranging from harassment and poor working conditions to extreme cases of physical and mental abuse. The lack of adequate employee protection, whether from internal actors or external threats like online harassment, necessitates a significant industry-wide effort to improve safety and accountability. The pursuit of justice for those allegedly abused at Brandoville remains uncertain.