Ubisoft has remained in hot water following a damning number of allegations against the company due to the fact that they’ve refused to do anything about it. However, It seems like now is the time that it’s reached its boiling point. With the hashtag trending on twitter, #HoldUbisoftAccountable. 

Many users are on twitter, who have brought it upon themselves to bring to light the numerous allegations against the company, as the company has started facing the first wave of legal proceedings towards the company’s complete lack of bringing the accused to justice. 

Ubisoft has been being accused of toxic culture, and workplace harassment by women working in the company. This has all been an ongoing issue since the summer of 2020, where the allegations started, and Ubisoft had to respond. Last July, Ubisoft had 3 of their executives step down due to allegations in the company which led to the revelation that the HR department was actively hiding the reports made to the company. What’s worse, is that while the director of HR stepped down after this revelation was brought to light, people noticed that the workers covering the harassment cases were still holding positions, meaning that little was being done about the issue. Jason Schrier had also uploaded his own piece on the matter during the summer of 2020 bringing to light dozens of accusations made by employees of the company. 

Furthermore, some of the accused at the center of the storm still hold their positions in the company. For instance, Ubisoft Singapore Director Huges Ricour, who stepped down in November of 2020, still somehow is working at Ubisoft, as his position was changed on his Linkedin profile, rather than his full removal from the company. Another example is the case of Florent Castelnerac, who is the head of Nadeo, which is a Ubisoft Owned company. 12 people had filed allegations against him, but nothing is being done about it, as reports came in stating that management is “protecting him”

Ubisoft’s Europe studios are not the only ones having issue with harassment issues, as Ubisoft’s studios in Canada have been suffering the same fate befallen by the studios across the sea. Ubisoft Canada has also received it’s fair share of allegations in the studio, but with those issued being sidelined in 2020, it’s hard to assume that the appointed Christophe Derennes is not doing anything about the abusers that are plaguing the studio. Many have also pointed out the coincidence that Christophe is also the cousin of Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemont.

On top of all of this, current employees at Ubisoft state that “Nothing had changed” and issues still arise in the company, meaning that everything done in 2020 hasn’t been addressed by the gaming giant. Of course, when an issue like this comes to light, and the public takes notice, they’re not happy. All for a very good reason at that. As the hashtag #HoldUbisoftAccountable started picking up steam during the day of May 20^th, 2021. 

Rightfully so, fans were quick to jump into action to bring to light the atrocities committed by Ubisoft. As the first wave of criminal investigations were being brought upon the company. People who were ready to give Ubisoft a piece of their mind, as well as inform others about the actions made by the company like they did last year. 

One user, Going by the handle @The_Visualizer posted his thoughts about the company. “Stop buying Ubisoft games until they clean house of all the abusers and their enablers. Would u be fine giving them $60 to play a game if your mom, wife, gf, sister or daughter worked there & was constantly harassed/demeaned/assaulted on a daily basis?”

Sebastian Dell’Aria, one of the visual designer on Assassin’s Creed Posted on his Twitter, @Memento_Gallery showed his support for the cause by removing his affiliation with the company from his public social media pages. “For the first time in 6 years since I created Memento Gallery, I took out “Assassin’s Creed” from the bio and it feels terrible. I’m lost, but it’s the right thing to do. I won’t put it back until meaningful change is promised and carried out.”

One of the biggest Assassin’s creed new sites, CODEX put out an entire statement discussing their stance on Ubisoft’s lack of initiative. “in light of the recent reports regarding the inefficient handling of misconduct, abuse of power and workplace toxicity surrounding the multiple influential figures within Ubisoft: I, rinothebouncer, founder of the Codex, would like to join my brothers and sisters who are fighting the good fight to bring about a positive structural change within Ubisoft and standing in solidarity with the victims who came forward their stories, and those still in fear of consequences for speaking out. Last year, I revealed plans for the animus foundation, an initiative aimed at supporting those affected by workplace toxicity and misconduct. Today, I invite anyone who’s willing to contribute to reach out in order to work together and explore the various ways we can help the victims and fight for an internal change towards a healthy an inclusive culture and urge an instant inefficient restructuring.”

CODEX ends their statement by saying “we demand change, not mere marketing tactics and we stand together and hope that you stand by us, different yet indivisible. One hidden blade against injustice.“

While the solidarity of the community rings true, and while the thought of Ubisoft’s Assassin’s creed sisterhood feels more and more like PR stunts rather than a genuine effort to help women in the Assassin’s Creed community, the misconduct continues behind the scenes of Ubisoft, the company continues to still make money. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla continues to bring in sufficient funds into the company, while any boycott against the gaming giant would eventually fall upon deaf ears. While Ubisoft is still going into its first legal battle against the mishandling of addressing misconduct, the sad truth of the matter lies within the fact that this same issue arose just a year prior. Hopefully something will be done as Ubisoft will have to call their legal counsel, but fans of Ubisoft who want to see the company better themselves will have to keep reminding Ubisoft that their misdeeds are not going to be forgiven until a massive change in the way the company functions happens.