A recent report from Kotaku goes in-depth on a number of accusations lifted at Ubisoft Singapore by a number of anonymous employees. The report details disparities in payments, incidents related to racial exclusion, toxic work culture, and sexual misconducts.
Ubisoft’s Singapore studio has worked on games like Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag and Immortals Fenyx Rising, and is currently hard at work on Skull and Bones (which itself has had long and tortured development cycle). The report outlines how Ubisoft used government subsidiaries to its advantage by putting a studio to nurture local talent, but hasn’t given any managerial roles to the locals until now. Furthermore, Ubisoft allegedly gives the locals minimum wage while expats enjoy more salaries with disparities ranging anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 a year.
Many sources familiar with the matter have called Ubisoft Singapore to be one of the French giant’s worst studios. Higher-ups in the organization have been accused of toxic behaviour and poor management, while issues such as sexual misconduct seem to have been largely ignored by HR and in-charge officials.
Ubisoft has issued a statement on the matter, which (as sent to GamesIndustry.biz) reads, “Over the course of the past year, Ubisoft has implemented significant and meaningful changes that seek to ensure a safe and inclusive work environment for all. These have included trainings and more comprehensive procedures that allow our employees to bring forward concerns and claims, and ensure they are investigated and dealt with in a timely manner. It’s our hope that through our ongoing actions all team members feel supported, valued and confident in Ubisoft’s ability to foster a culture of respect and belonging.”
“Ubisoft is a global company, and our offices and studios around the world are made up of diverse groups of people. We have a deep respect for local cultures and strive to create environments where everyone feels welcome and respected.”