Video game developer and publisher Ubisoft has been the subject of scrutiny after widespread reports of sexual assault and misconduct have led to multiple executives being suspended and CEO Yves Guillemot announcing structural changes to combat toxicity within the company. Today, those changes have been escalated, as three executives resigned, according to a Ubisoft press release, including Chief Creative Officer Serge Hascoet.
Hascoet has served this position at Ubisoft since 2006, according to a biography kept by Bloomberg News, whose reporter Jason Schreier confirmed via Twitter that he is leaving the company entirely, not just his current role. Guillemot will be taking over as interim CCO until a new hire is made, and according to the press release he will "personally oversee a complete overhaul of the way in which the creative teams collaborate."
Yannis Mallat, the Managing Director of Ubisoft's Canadian studio, and Cecile Cornet, the Global Head of HR, have also resigned effective immediately, and both will be replaced as the company "is restructuring and strengthening its HR function" by providing more means to report and deal with misconduct. These resignations being announced by Ubisoft follow others, such as former Splinter Cell Creative Director Maxime Beland.
Other massive video game companies have been undergoing similar investigations and changes as the industry has been dealing with its history of systemic issues in recent weeks. Electronic Arts has also been conducting sexual assault and misconduct investigations, for example. Fan communities around games like Super Smash Bros. have likewise been in the news for members being ousted about abuse and pedophilia.
However, Ubisoft has perhaps been the most vocal about its efforts to clean house and try to improve. In today's press release, the company asserts that the initiatives laid out earlier this month are guiding a "renewed commitment to foster an environment that its employees, partners, and communities can be proud of." It should be interesting to see how Ubisoft addresses these concerns during tomorrow's Ubisoft Forward livestream, the replacement for its traditional E3 press conference.
While the company as a whole and its culture are experiencing tumultuous changes, fans of Ubisoft's many different game series are still anticipating titles that are expected to be shown during Ubisoft Forward, if it happens. For instance, Far Cry 6 starring Giancarlo Esposito as a major villain has been leaked ahead of the event.
Source: Ubisoft, Bloomberg News