Ubisoft Responds to Disturbing Abuse Allegations at Indonesian Support 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 abuse did not occur within Ubisoft itself, the incident highlights a persistent problem within the video game industry: the prevalence of harassment, abuse, and exploitative practices. Previous reports have documented bullying, harassment, and even instances leading to suicidal thoughts among game developers. This latest case underscores the urgent need for improved employee protections.

The People Make Games video focuses on the alleged actions of Kwan Cherry Lai, the commissioner of the Brandoville development team and wife of the CEO. The report alleges Lai subjected employees, including Christa Sydney, to extreme abuse, including mental and physical violence, forced religious practices, severe sleep deprivation, and even compelled self-harm while filming the act. Ubisoft's statement to Eurogamer strongly condemns such behavior.

Further allegations have emerged from other Brandoville employees, describing financial exploitation (salary deductions under the guise of "help"), and the overworking of a pregnant employee, resulting in premature birth and the tragic loss of her child.

Brandoville's History and the Ongoing Investigation

Founded in 2018 and based in Indonesia, Brandoville ceased operations in August 2024. Allegations of abuse 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 claims and reportedly seek to question Kwan Cherry Lai, who is now allegedly residing in Hong Kong.

The pursuit of justice for Christa Sydney and other alleged victims remains uncertain. The gaming industry continues to grapple with widespread issues of poor working conditions, abuse, and harassment, both internally and externally, including online threats. The need for stronger employee protections and industry-wide reform is undeniably clear.