French video game company Ubisoft is facing allegations of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment and assault, following articles published by French newspaper Libération. Former and current employees reported multiple instances of toxic work environments, with senior management and the HR department accused of failing to act appropriately. High-profile employees, including creative director Serge Hascoët, have resigned. Ubisoft’s CEO vowed to conduct an external investigation into the allegations and acknowledged the company’s past failure to act. The allegations have damaged the company’s reputation and led to calls for greater transparency and accountability in the video game industry.

Ubisoft faces allegations of sexual misconduct within the company

Background

Ubisoft, the French video game company known for creating popular franchises such as Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry, was recently hit with allegations of sexual misconduct within the company. The allegations came to light after a series of articles published by French newspaper, Libération, based on interviews with former and current employees.

The Allegations

The allegations include multiple instances of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and toxic work environments at Ubisoft. The company’s senior management and HR department have been accused of ignoring complaints and protecting the accused employees.

Many of the allegations are directed at high-profile employees, including the company’s creative director, Serge Hascoët, who has since resigned from his position.

Ubisoft’s Response

Ubisoft CEO, Yves Guillemot, released a statement in response to the allegations, stating that the company is taking the situation very seriously and is committed to creating a safe and inclusive workplace. The statement also announced that an external investigation will be conducted into the allegations.

Guillemot also acknowledged that the company has not done enough in the past to address these issues and apologized to those who have been affected by the company’s failure to act.

Impact on the Company

The allegations have had a significant impact on Ubisoft’s reputation, with many fans and industry professionals criticizing the company’s handling of the situation. The company’s share price also plummeted following the release of the news.

Many have called for more transparency and accountability from the company, as well as a systemic change in the video game industry as a whole to address issues of sexual harassment and misconduct.