A court in France has delivered a significant ruling, sentencing three former Ubisoft executives for sexual and psychological harassment. The individuals involved—Serge Hascoet, Tommy Francois, and Guillaume Patrux—each received fines and suspended prison sentences following a comprehensive investigation into workplace misconduct at the renowned video game publisher.
According to reports from The Guardian, Serge Hascoet, who served as Ubisoft’s former chief creative officer, was found guilty of making inappropriate comments about a female employee. Allegedly, he suggested that her mood could be improved through sexual encounters, stating that it could help "show how to calm her." This blatant disregard for professional boundaries highlights the toxic environment that had pervaded the company.
Tommy Francois, Ubisoft’s former editorial vice president, faced additional charges beyond harassment. He was convicted of attempted sexual assault, stemming from an incident where he reportedly attempted to kiss a female employee against her will at a party. Colleagues witnessed this distressing event, asserting that they held the employee down during the encounter, raising serious concerns about workplace safety and consent.
Guillaume Patrux, a former game director, was accused of engaging in aggressive behavior, including throwing furniture in open-plan office spaces and directing projectiles at employees. Disturbingly, he was also reported to have drawn swastikas on a colleague’s notebook, actions that reflect a deeply troubling culture within the company.
The investigations into Ubisoft's workplace culture began in 2020, fueled by the MeToo movement within the gaming industry. In June 2020, current and former employees took to social media, sharing their experiences of harassment and toxic attitudes that had persisted for decades at the developer of popular franchises like Far Cry and Assassin’s Creed.
An internal survey conducted during this period revealed concerning statistics: out of 14,000 employees surveyed, 25 percent reported having witnessed or experienced workplace misconduct, while 20 percent indicated they did not feel safe or respected within the company. This alarming data prompted significant changes in leadership, leading to the resignation of several executives, including Hascoet, and the firing of others like Francois.
In 2023, the legal repercussions continued as French police arrested five former employees, including Hascoet and Francois, as investigations into the company's culture progressed. In a statement reported by French newspaper Le Monde, Francois attributed his behavior to the pervasive company culture at Ubisoft, claiming it was "everywhere, in every department" and asserting that he did not perceive his actions as "abnormal."
The backlash against the company’s leadership has raised critical questions about accountability and the need for systemic change in the gaming industry. As the situation unfolds, The Verge has reached out to Ubisoft for further comment on these serious allegations and the steps they are taking to address them.
