Five former Ubisoft executives have been arrested for harassment and assault. Learn more about who these executives are, the allegations, how they came to be, Ubisoft's response, and more.
Former Ubisoft Executives Arrested
In Custody for Harassment and Assault
Five former French Ubisoft executives have been apprehended after a thorough year-long inquiry led by the public prosecutor's office. According to French newspaper Libération, three individuals were arrested on October 3rd, 2023, with the remaining two going into custody on October 4th, 2023. Among those detained are the former Chief Creative Officer, Serge Hascoët, and the ex-Vice President of Editorial and Creative Services, Tommy François.
Toxic Abusive Culture in Ubisoft
Three years ago, in 2020, the pages of "Libération" brought to light a distressing system of sexual harassment and assault within Ubisoft, a company widely regarded as the torchbearer of the French video game industry. The exposé centered around the Editorial division, where an alleged toxic working environment festered, with something akin to a boys' club forming around Tommy François, a prominent vice president.
François, facing numerous accusations of harassment, operated with impunity, shielded by his close association with Hascoët. The division had a culture of gossiping, displaying obscene gestures, and tackling women to the floor or walls in the evening. One of the blatant incidents of sexual assault witnessed was in December 2015 where, at a company party, François allegedly tried to forcibly kiss an employee while his team members held her. She fought back and managed to escape. When she confided with a company manager the next day, she was told that it was just a joke; that it was just something François often did.
Reports of harassment were met with resistance from the company's Human Resources department. Victims were often met with dismissive remarks such as "They're creative people. That's how they work" or even worse, "If you can't work with him, maybe it's time you left." These heartless responses only served to further perpetuate the hostile environment.
Hascoët and François then departed from the company in the summer of 2020 amidst allegations of widespread abuse, harassment, and discrimination within Ubisoft. The recent arrests followed complaints filed by the Solidaires Informatique union and two victims in the summer of 2021. The investigation is being overseen by the public prosecutor's office in Bobigny, a district in Paris.
A Disturbing Case of Systemic Abuse
Maude Beckers, the plaintiff's lawyer, expressed her astonishment at the extent of the systemic sexual violence uncovered. She contends that this case stands out due to how truly pervasive it was within the company. Unlike typical incidents, where a single wrongdoer might be shielded by a superior, the misconduct had become deeply embedded at Ubisoft. The company allegedly became a perverted playground, where inappropriate behavior was tolerated, and even deemed necessary for “creativity.”
Reports were routinely swept under the rug by H.R. The unsettling collaboration of the company's white-collar workers further underscores the gravity of the situation.
No Statement From Ubisoft
Ubisoft's CEO, Yves Guillemot, has not released any official statement regarding the allegations. When approached for comment, the company stated it "has no knowledge of the case and cannot, therefore, comment on it."
