Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has responded to an open letter signed by more than 500 current and former Ubisoft employees that not solely expressed solidarity with the Activision Blizzard walkout this week (July 28) however referred to as for industry-wide change in opposition to harassment and abusive behaviour.

The letter additionally criticised Ubisoft for not doing sufficient within the wake of allegations made in opposition to the corporate final 12 months over abuse and sexual harassment.

“We’ve got stood by and watched as you solely fired essentially the most public offenders,” the letter had learn. “You let the remaining both resign or worse, promoted them, moved them from studio to studio, crew to crew, giving them second likelihood after second likelihood with no repercussions. This cycle must cease.”

In a company-wide electronic mail despatched yesterday (July 29), shared by Axios’ Stephen Totilo, Guillemot wrote that he’s dedicated to creating “actual and lasting change” at Ubisoft, stressing that the management crew had learn the letter and that they “take the problems it raises critically”.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot emailed all workers at this time about yesterday’s open letter:

“We’ve got heard clearly from this letter that not everyone seems to be assured within the processes which were put in place to handle misconduct studies” pic.twitter.com/P6T22vS5cL

— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) July 29, 2021

He continued by saying that the corporate has made “essential progress” up to now 12 months.

“Since final summer season now we have carried out new nameless reporting instruments, revamped our HR processes together with new world insurance policies to stop and handle discrimination, retaliation, harassment, put in a brand new code of conduct, rolled out obligatory coaching, established a content material evaluate group and are bringing in new management throughout main studios, HR, D&I [Variety & Inclusion), Editorial and Manufacturing.”

Guillemot conceded that there was nonetheless extra to be finished. It nevertheless doesn’t handle how a number of males who had been accused of abuse have remained in lead roles at Ubisoft, as was the case for Assassin’s Creed Infinity.

The CEO nonetheless cited initiatives like over 300 “listening classes” with greater than 1,500 Ubisoft crew members, a company-wide survey, and world audit. He additionally guarantees extra updates in Q3, together with subsequent steps on the Values Venture, D&I, and an HR roadmap, sounding all an excessive amount of phrases from a recreation replace.

Elsewhere, Valve has defended its 30 per cent cut of Steam sales in response to a lawsuit from developer Wolfire, alleging that its reduce is the “{industry} normal”.

Publisher