Ex-Ubisoft Execs Taken Into Custody Over Ongoing 2020 Sexual Harassment Investigation

Ubisoft went through a saga of controversies back in June 2020 due to the sexual harassment allegations. Now, as spotted by @HazzadorGamin, French Union Solidaires Informatique Jeu Video revealed that some ex-Ubisoft execs were taken into custody two days ago in light of the ongoing case. No exact names were provided, but the bosses likely include those who were fired as a result of accusations.

📢This Tuesday, October 2, several former Ubisoft executives were taken into custody and questioned by police as part of the investigation into the company's systemic sexual harassment.

— Solidaires Informatique Jeu Vidéo (@SolInfoJeuVideo) October 4, 2023

The union has played a major role in investigating the allegedly toxic ecosystem of the company. It supported the victims and exposed the studio’s alleged malpractices. It also filed a collective lawsuit against Ubisoft two years ago for “institutional sexual harassment.” 

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After some internal investigations, several top execs in the company were either fired or resigned, including Francois, Beland, Hascoet, Ismail, and Mallat. The global head of HR at the time, Cecile Cornet, also resigned from her spot. The company’s internal investigation led to a severe restructuring and changes. Additionally, the branch in Singapour was under investigation two years ago for similar reasons.

However, the claims caused a huge stir in the gaming industry, and many affectees who faced harassment or a toxic work culture came forward to discuss the issues. The union claims that Ubisoft allowed the toxic environment and the “harassment to flourish” rather than taking action to protect devs since it was more profitable for it that way. 

… in other words, for allowing harassment to flourish, because it was considered more profitable for the company to leave predators in place than to protect employees.

— Solidaires Informatique Jeu Vidéo (@SolInfoJeuVideo) October 4, 2023

The French Union Solidaires mentions that Ubisoft apparently introduced a series of measures that had no noticeable effect. It allegedly also gave promotions to some of the accusers, as per the union. The case is still ongoing as of now, and Ubisoft continues to deny the allegations.

Ubisoft claims to have taken major steps to improve its workplace culture to halt any similar harassment from taking place in the environment. The studio has also made a lot of changes, like making a new code of conduct, hiring a head of workplace culture, and more. Nevertheless, we can expect to hear more as the situation continues to unfold legally.