Overview of Recent Allegations at Brandoville Studio
- Ubisoft addresses serious abuse allegations involving its external support studio.
- Brandoville Studio faces claims of severe mental and physical mistreatment.
- Ongoing allegations in the gaming sector emphasize the urgent need for enhanced employee protections.
In a troubling development for the gaming industry, Ubisoft has responded to alarming allegations of mental and physical abuse at Brandoville Studio, an external support team that contributed to the development of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The company expressed feeling “deeply disturbed”by the claims, which have attracted widespread media attention.
The issues raised are not isolated, as incidents of harassment and abuse have plagued the gaming sector for years. Instances of bullying have sadly led some developers to consider drastic measures, highlighting an ongoing crisis. The latest revelations, detailed in a report by the YouTube channel People Make Games, reveal a toxic work environment at Brandoville Studio, where serious misconduct has allegedly occurred.
Key accusations involve Kwan Cherry Lai, the commissioner at Brandoville and reportedly the wife of the studio’s CEO. Allegations include extreme verbal abuse, enforced religious practices, and sleep deprivation lasting four days. Disturbingly, there is a claim that she coerced an employee, Christa Sydney, into self-harm during filming. In light of these accusations, Ubisoft publicly condemned all forms of abuse through their statement to Eurogamer.
Additional testimonies from former employees reveal further systemic issues within Brandoville. Accounts describe instances where Lai controversially withheld employee salaries purportedly to assist with personal expenses, alongside the case of a pregnant staff member who was reportedly overworked and experienced a premature birth, resulting in tragic consequences.
Brandoville Studio: History and Closure
Founded in 2018 in Indonesia, Brandoville Studio operated until its closure in August 2024. Reports of abusive practices within the studio date back to 2019, underscoring a long-standing concern for employee welfare. The studio was involved in the creation of significant game titles, including Age of Empires 4 and the anticipated Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Following these revelations, investigations have been launched in Indonesia, and authorities intend to question Kwan Cherry Lai. However, her reported current whereabouts in Hong Kong pose a challenge for the investigation.
The future for Christa Sydney and her colleagues who have voiced complaints remains uncertain. Unfortunately, the issues of workplace abuse, poor conditions, and harassment are pervasive within the gaming industry, both domestically and internationally. There is an undeniable urgency for reforms to establish better protections for employees, combating not only internal misconduct but also external threats faced by those within the industry.
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