Following a year-long investigation into misconduct in the workplace, it is reported that five former executives from French gaming developer Ubisoft have been arrested and taken into custody. The arrests were made following a string of allegations of sexual harassment and assault while employed with the gaming giant.
Among those detained by police are former VP of editorial and creative services Tommy François and former chief creative officer Serge Hascoët, both of whom were involved in a string of allegations that led them to their eventual departure from the company in 2020.
Former Ubisoft executives are in police custody
The case is being handled by the public prosecutor's office in Bobigny, Paris, as reported by the French publication Libération, where approximately 50 former and active employees gave their testimonies. This comes after the Solidaires Informatique union and two victims made successive complaints of harassment and assault. The lawyer for the plaintiff, Maude Beckers, told the publication that the investigation "reveals systemic sexual violence."
Despite the co-founder and CEO of Ubisoft committing to making positive changes following the initial allegations that led to Hascoët and François leaving the company, there were reports that the company were struggling to overcome the toxic work environment that existed within their ranks.
Ubisoft has created some of the most iconic franchises in the gaming industry, with titles such as Assassin's Creed, Watch Dogs, and Far Cry, just to name a few. No official statement has been made by the company, however, they did claim to not have any knowledge of what information has been shared and are not in a position to comment, as they told IGN.
This is no doubt a sensitive matter and the expectation will be that Ubisoft will make a comment on the allegations as all eyes remain on the gaming giant to make some drastic and effective changes.
There's no place for harassment and assault in any workplace. If you are struggling and need some support, there are some great resources out there. Feel free to check out Safe In Our World for mental health support and Women In Games for more information and assistance.