Ubisoft Condemns Abuse at Assassin's Creed Shadows Support Studio

Summary

• Ubisoft responds to abuse allegations at support studio.
• Brandoville Studio accused of mental, physical abuse.
• Reports of abuse in the gaming industry highlight need for better protection.

A recent video report detailing alleged mental and physical abuse at an external support studio has prompted a response from Ubisoft, describing the situation as "deeply disturbing." Although the abuse did not occur within Ubisoft itself, the implicated support studio, Brandoville, contributed to the development of Assassin's Creed Shadows.

Unfortunately, abuse within the video game industry is not uncommon, with numerous reports over the years highlighting issues such as harassment, mental and physical abuse, and other severe problems. These reports have sometimes led to extreme outcomes, with some game developers contemplating suicide due to bullying and other forms of mistreatment. The latest incident further underscores these ongoing concerns.

The video from the YouTube channel People Make Games delves into the situation at Brandoville, an Indonesian studio. It alleges that Kwan Cherry Lai, the commissioner of the game development team and wife of Brandoville's CEO, exhibited toxic and abusive behavior. According to the report, Lai subjected employee Christa Sydney to mental and physical abuse, enforced religious worship, caused severe sleep deprivation over four days, and even coerced Sydney into self-harm while filming it. In response to these allegations, Ubisoft has expressed deep disturbance and condemned any form of abuse.

Additional employees at Brandoville have also come forward with allegations against Lai, including withholding parts of their salaries under the guise of financial assistance and overworking a pregnant employee, which resulted in premature birth and the subsequent death of the child in the hospital.

Brandoville Studio's History and Fate

Established in 2018 and based in Indonesia, Brandoville shut down in August 2024. Reports of abuse date back to 2019. During its operational years, the studio assisted with significant game releases, including Age of Empires 4 and the upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows. Following these allegations, investigations have commenced in Indonesia, with the police seeking to question Kwan Cherry Lai. However, Lai has claimed to be in Hong Kong, complicating efforts to locate her.

Whether Christa Sydney and other alleged victims will receive justice remains uncertain. Across the US and globally, reports of poor working conditions, abuse, and sexual harassment continue to emerge within the gaming industry. This situation underscores the urgent need for enhanced protections for employees, safeguarding them against abuse from both internal sources and external threats such as death threats from online communities.