"Tied to a Chair": Ubisoft Trial Exposes Shocking Allegations of Workplace Abuse

Harrowing Testimony in Ubisoft Trial Reveals Years of Alleged Abuse

A trial against former high-level executives at video game giant Ubisoft is underway in France, revealing deeply disturbing allegations of a "systemic" culture of abuse and harassment. Former employees have testified to a pattern of shocking misconduct that includes being tied to chairs, being forced to perform handstands, and enduring a constant barrage of sexual comments and jokes.

The trial centers on three former executives—Serge Hascoët, Tommy François, and Guillaume Patrux—who are facing charges of harassment and, in one case, attempted sexual assault. All three men deny the charges.

Witnesses have painted a grim picture of the workplace environment at the publisher's Paris studios between 2010 and 2020, describing it as a "boys' club" where they felt "terrified" and "like pieces of meat." The court heard testimony of a manager who allegedly farted in employees' faces, another who kissed a staff member by force while she was restrained by colleagues, and a creative director who threatened an office shooting and cracked a whip in the faces of his team.

One woman alleged that former VP Tommy François forced her to do a handstand while wearing a skirt. She told the court, "He was my superior and I was afraid of him. I did it to get it over with and get rid of him."

The state prosecutor has described the evidence of harassment as "overwhelming." The trial follows a long-running scandal at Ubisoft, which saw several high-profile departures in 2020 amid widespread accusations of misconduct. This legal proceeding is a critical moment for an industry that continues to reckon with its toxic workplace culture. The judges have retired to consider the evidence and reach a verdict.