Ubisoft Disturbed by Abuse Allegations 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 the 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, which calls the situation "deeply disturbing." While the abuse didn't occur within Ubisoft itself, the implicated support studio, Brandoville, contributed to the development of Assassin's Creed Shadows.

Unfortunately, the video game industry has a history of abuse issues, with reports of harassment, mental and physical abuse, and other serious problems emerging over the years. These reports have included instances of bullying that have driven some game developers to contemplate suicide. The latest report sheds light on yet another distressing situation.

The video from the YouTube channel People Make Games delves into the situation at Brandoville, an Indonesian studio, where the commissioner of the game development team, Kwan Cherry Lai, allegedly exhibited toxic and abusive behavior. Kwan, who is married to Brandoville's CEO, is accused of subjecting employee Christa Sydney to mental and physical abuse, forced religious worship, severe sleep deprivation over four days, and even compelling Sydney to self-harm on camera. In response, Ubisoft issued a statement to Eurogamer, expressing deep disturbance over the report and condemning any form of abuse.

Further allegations have surfaced from other workers at the studio, including claims that Kwan Cherry Lai withheld portions of their salaries to "help" with their spending habits and overworked a pregnant employee, leading to 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 operation, the studio worked on major game releases such as Age of Empires 4 and the upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows. Following the allegations, an investigation has been initiated in Indonesia, with the police seeking to question Kwan Cherry Lai. However, she has reportedly claimed to be in Hong Kong, complicating the investigation.

It remains uncertain whether Sydney and the other alleged victims will achieve justice. Across the globe, including in the US, reports of poor working conditions, abuse, and sexual harassment continue to emerge within the game industry. These incidents underscore the urgent need for enhanced protections for employees, whether they face abuse from internal staff or endure severe threats from external sources.