Workers at Ubisoft Quebec are reportedly asking to leave Assassin’s Creed Red to avoid working with Jonathan Dumont. The same source, a member of the employee-led group A Better Ubisoft, also alleges that multiple people have left the company altogether to get away from Dumont, who has a reputation for being verbally abusive in the workplace.
As reported by The Gamer, a member of A Better Ubisoft recently came forward to discuss the recent departures under a condition of anonymity. They describe Assassin’s Creed: Red’s director as prone to angry outbursts and unwanted sexual advances and blame him for “creating a climate of fear” within the studio.
“Dumont has been the reason [for] multiple of my colleagues leaving,” the source told The Gamer. They attributed this mass departure to Dumont’s long history of sexual harassment, verbal abuse, and sometimes violent behavior. “His outbursts have created a climate of fear known for years in the studio and failed to be acted on for a long time,” said the source. They went on to acknowledge that Dumont’s behavior has improved since the harassment allegations surfaced in 2020. However, it seems to be too little too late for many Ubisoft personnel, who still have fresh memories of his alleged actions. Many are thus unwilling to work on the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Red under his supervision.
The Creative Director of Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey and Immortals: Phoenix Rising, employees accused Jonathan Dumont of abuse and misconduct in 2020. Multiple employees described the climate at Ubisoft Quebec as “hostile” and said the Canadian studio was “plagued by toxic and abusive people.” Dumont in particular was known for his violent temperament, which allegedly included throwing objects, slamming doors, and punching walls. He also built up a reputation for being physically intimidating and verbally abusive, with one source describing him as “narcissistic” and “a major bully.” He was also said to be particularly aggressive towards new hires, women, and LGBTQ employees, reportedly bringing several colleagues to tears.
Sources also described Dumont’s outbursts and harassment as something of an open secret within the company. Ubisoft executives occasionally stepped in and forced Dumont to apologize, but he never faced any meaningful consequences for his actions. Given his history of behavior and Ubisoft’s tradition of turning a blind eye to abuses within the company, it’s not surprising that staff members are reportedly leaving the development of Assassin’s Creed Red in such large numbers.
These problems were hardly unique to Ubisoft Quebec, with similar allegations coming from other Ubisoft studios. These widespread problems led employees to form the organization A Better Ubisoft to advocate for better conditions. The organization published an open letter in 2021 calling on Ubisoft to stop protecting abusers, give workers more say in how the company operates, promote collaboration between Ubisoft studios, and give non-management personnel a say in organizing said collaboration. So far, none of A Better Ubisoft’s demands have been met.
Assassin’s Creed Red is in development.