Ubisoft CEO says company ‘failed to protect victims’ in statement ahead of Ubisoft Forward
Continued emphasis on changing culture moving forward.
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What you need to know
Over the last several weeks, Ubisoft has been rocked by a wave of abuse and harassment allegations. Several executives and senior developers at different studios have been accused of abusive behavior, with several resigning or being fired, such as theChief Creative Officer Serge HascoëtandEditorial Vice President Tommy Francois.
Ahead of today’sUbisoft Forwardshowcase, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot issued a statement, explaining that the company ‘failed to protect victims’ in these situations and that further steps are being taken. Guillemot also states that Ubisoft is making additional donations to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. You can watch the full video below.
Ahead of#UbiForward, a message from our CEO Yves Guillemot:pic.twitter.com/NDfOj4tFk7Ahead of#UbiForward, a message from our CEO Yves Guillemot:pic.twitter.com/NDfOj4tFk7— Ubisoft (@Ubisoft)September 10, 2020September 10, 2020
While some employees accused of harassment are no longer at Ubisoft, many others still are,with multiple reportspointing to a culture of toxicity where abusers are protected and HR departments do not assist victims.
Guillemot’s statements will not be in the livestreamed Ubisoft Forward later today. Ubisoft did note onTwitterhowever that Guillemot’s statement will be edited into the video-on-demand (VOD) versions of the Ubisoft Forward showcase.
We’ll have to wait and see how things are handled in the coming months and if more steps are taken and implemented to ensure these kinds of things aren’t happening and innocent employees are protected. Ubisoft has a large lineup of titles being released over the next year, with Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Watch Dogs: Legion arriving later in 2020 whileFar Cry 6is coming in 2021.
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Samuel Tolbert is a freelance writer covering gaming news, previews, reviews, interviews and different aspects of the gaming industry, specifically focusing on Xbox and PC gaming on Windows Central. You can find him on Twitter@SamuelTolbert.
