Ubisoft Responds to Disturbing Allegations of Abuse at External Studio
Ubisoft has issued a statement expressing deep concern regarding a recent video report alleging severe mental and physical abuse at Brandoville Studio, an Indonesian outsourcing partner that contributed to Assassin's Creed Shadows. While the abuse occurred outside of Ubisoft's direct operations, the company strongly condemns such actions.
The YouTube channel People Make Games detailed harrowing accounts of abuse perpetrated by Kwan Cherry Lai, the commissioner and wife of Brandoville's CEO. Allegations include mental and physical abuse, forced religious practices, extreme sleep deprivation, and the coercion of an employee, Christa Sydney, into self-harm while being filmed. Multiple Brandoville employees have corroborated these claims, citing further instances of financial exploitation and the overworking of a pregnant employee, resulting in a premature birth and the subsequent death of the child.
Brandoville Studio, founded in 2018, ceased operations in August 2024. Reports of abusive practices 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 allegations and seeking to question Kwan Cherry Lai, although her current location in Hong Kong complicates the process.
This incident underscores a persistent problem within the video game industry: the prevalence of harassment, abuse, and poor working conditions. The ongoing reports of such misconduct, ranging from bullying to death threats, highlight the urgent need for stronger employee protections and accountability measures across the industry, both internally and within the outsourcing ecosystem. The pursuit of justice for those allegedly harmed at Brandoville remains uncertain.
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