Harassment and discrimination investigation at Singapore's Ubisoft studio

Singapore's Ubisoft studio is being investigated for allegations of sexual harassment and racial discrimination, the local regulator said, in a new case involving the French video game giant.

Harassment and discrimination investigation at Singapore's Ubisoft studio
Ubisoft Singapore's 'Skull & Bones' hacking game was announced in 2017 and isn't expected until 2022. | UBISOFT


The company behind the Assassin's Creed or Far Cry games was splashed last year with revelations of sexist and violent behavior by several of its executives.

Tafep, an employer regulator in a Southeast Asian city-state, said Tuesday that it had opened an investigation after receiving "anonymous information containing links to online articles on allegations of workplace harassment. labor and discriminatory treatment at Ubisoft Singapore."

The regulator also called on anyone with knowledge of illegal behavior, such as sexual assault or harassment, to report such incidents to the police.

Video game website Kotaku published an investigation last month alleging harassment, abuse and significant pay disparities between expats and Singaporeans, based on the testimonies of about 20 current and former Singaporean employees. Ubisoft Singapore speaking on condition of anonymity.

Two women testified to physical contact and inappropriate comments, while another employee complained of an "insane pay gap between locals and expats."

Ubisoft Singapore responded that it was aware of the allegations raised by the regulator in a statement to AFP.

"As our discussions (with the regulator) are ongoing, we do not have anything that can be made public at this stage," it said.

"All Ubisoft studios, including Ubisoft Singapore, strive to promote a culture that team members and partners can be proud of. We do not and will not tolerate discrimination or abuse," the press release added.

Ubisoft's Singapore studio, established in 2008, has some 500 employees, according to local media outlet Straits Times.

The video game industry, which is largely male dominated, suffers from a bad reputation for mthe often sexist treatment of women in games as well as harassment and discrimination in studios.

Allegations against managers at Ubisoft's Toronto and Montreal studios led to resignations and firings last year.

Other video game publishers are also under fire. U.S. giant Activision Blizzard, accused of allowing discrimination and harassment to flourish, has announced a management shake-up. 500 Ubisoft employees worldwide also signed an open letter last July.

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