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

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Ubisoft Responds to Allegations of Abuse at External Studio

Ubisoft has issued a statement expressing deep concern regarding allegations of mental and physical abuse at Brandoville Studio, an Indonesian outsourcing partner that contributed to Assassin's Creed Shadows. The YouTube channel People Make Games published a video detailing these disturbing claims, which include accusations of severe workplace abuse perpetrated by Kwan Cherry Lai, the commissioner and wife of Brandoville's CEO.

The report alleges a pattern of abusive behavior, including mental and physical abuse, forced religious practices, sleep deprivation, and coercion of self-harm against employee Christa Sydney. Further allegations from other Brandoville employees corroborate these claims, citing salary manipulation, overworking of a pregnant employee (resulting in premature birth and the subsequent death of the child), and other forms of mistreatment.

Brandoville Studio, founded in 2018 and closed in August 2024, reportedly worked on several high-profile titles, including Age of Empires 4 and Assassin's Creed Shadows. While the abuse allegedly occurred between 2019 and the studio's closure, 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 a persistent problem within the video game industry: the prevalence of harassment, abuse, and poor working conditions. The case highlights the urgent need for stronger protections and accountability mechanisms for workers, addressing both internal and external sources of abuse, including online harassment and death threats. The outcome of the investigation and whether justice will be served for those allegedly abused remains uncertain.