Assassin's Creed Support Studio Allegations Disturb Ubisoft

Ubisoft Responds to 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 external support studio that contributed to the development of Assassin's Creed Shadows. While the abuse did not occur within Ubisoft itself, the company strongly condemns such actions.

The report, published by the YouTube channel People Make Games, details a pattern of abusive behavior by Kwan Cherry Lai, the commissioner and wife of Brandoville's CEO. Allegations include mental and physical abuse, forced religious practices, sleep deprivation, and coercion of self-harm against employee Christa Sydney. Multiple Brandoville employees have corroborated these claims, citing further instances of financial exploitation and the overworking of a pregnant employee, resulting in premature birth and the subsequent death of the child.

Brandoville Studio, founded in 2018 and based in Indonesia, ceased operations in August 2024. Reports of abuse allegedly date back to 2019, during which time the studio worked on projects such as Age of Empires 4 and Assassin's Creed Shadows. Indonesian authorities are investigating these allegations and reportedly seeking to question Kwan Cherry Lai, although her current location in Hong Kong complicates the process.

This incident underscores the ongoing issue of workplace abuse within the video game industry. Numerous reports of harassment, abuse, and poor working conditions continue to surface, highlighting the urgent need for stronger employee protections and accountability mechanisms. The long-term consequences for victims like Sydney and the need for justice remain uncertain. The industry must address these systemic problems to ensure a safer and more ethical work environment for all.