Summary
- Ubisoft responds to allegations of abuse at a support studio.
- Brandoville Studio is accused of mental and physical abuse.
- Recent reports highlight the ongoing need for better worker protection in the gaming industry.
A YouTube video report detailing alleged mental and physical abuse at Brandoville Studio, an external support studio that worked on Assassin's Creed Shadows, has prompted a strong response from Ubisoft, calling the allegations "deeply disturbing." While the abuse did not occur within Ubisoft itself, the incident underscores the persistent issue of abuse within the broader gaming industry.
Reports of harassment, mental and physical abuse, and other forms of mistreatment are sadly not uncommon in the video game industry. Previous incidents have included bullying and even cases leading to developers considering suicide. This latest report from the People Make Games YouTube channel focuses on Brandoville Studio in Indonesia, where the commissioner, Kwan Cherry Lai (wife of the CEO), allegedly subjected employees to extreme abuse. Allegations include mental and physical abuse, forced religious worship, severe sleep deprivation, and even forcing an employee, Christa Sydney, to self-harm while filming it. Ubisoft has publicly condemned the abuse.
Further allegations have emerged from other Brandoville employees, including claims of salary deductions under the guise of "help" with spending, and the overworking of a pregnant employee, resulting in premature birth and the subsequent death of the child.
Brandoville Studio's History and Fate
Founded in 2018 in Indonesia, Brandoville Studio closed its doors in August 2024. Allegations of abuse reportedly date back to 2019. During its operational years, the studio contributed to major game releases, including Age of Empires 4 and the upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows. Indonesian authorities are now investigating these claims and reportedly seeking to question Kwan Cherry Lai, although she is currently believed to be in Hong Kong.
The pursuit of justice for Christa Sydney and other alleged victims remains uncertain. The ongoing prevalence of poor working conditions, abuse, and harassment within the gaming industry—both internally and from external sources like online harassment—demands urgent and significant improvements to protect employees.
