Ubisoft Responds to Assassin's Creed 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 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 alleged abuse occurred outside of Ubisoft's direct operations, the company unequivocally condemns such actions. The video details claims against Kwan Cherry Lai, the commissioner and wife of Brandoville's CEO, alleging extreme toxicity, including mental and physical abuse, forced religious practices, sleep deprivation, and even coerced self-harm of an employee, Christa Sydney. Multiple employees have come forward with similar accounts of mistreatment, including salary withholding and the overworking of a pregnant employee resulting in a premature birth and the subsequent death of the child.

Brandoville Studio, founded in 2018 and based in Indonesia, ceased operations in August 2024. Allegations of abuse reportedly date back to 2019, a period during which the studio worked on titles 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, who is currently believed to be in Hong Kong.

This incident underscores the ongoing issue of abuse within the video game industry. Numerous reports of harassment, abuse, and poor working conditions continue to surface, highlighting a critical need for stronger employee protections and accountability. The pursuit of justice for Christa Sydney and other alleged victims remains uncertain, but the incident serves as a stark reminder of the systemic problems that need to be addressed to ensure a safer and more ethical work environment for all game developers.