“A boys’ club above the law.” Former Ubisoft bosses face trial in France for sexual harassment and aggressive conduct. Here are the allegations.

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A significant trial concerning sexual harassment, bullying, and even attempted assault accusations against three ex-Ubisoft leaders is underway in France. According to The Guardian, the court in Seine-Saint-Denis is presently examining claims of inappropriate behavior that occurred at Ubisoft Paris, located in Montreuil, France, from 2012 to 2020.

Ubisoft is renowned for creating popular Windows PC and Xbox games such as Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and The Division. However, a few years ago, allegations of inappropriate behavior within the company surfaced, resulting in terminations and even arrests.

An employee is reported to have described the work environment as being like “an exclusive club operating beyond the law.” Here’s what we currently know about the ongoing trial.

Be warned that the following may make for difficult reading.

Who is on trial and what are the accusations?

As a researcher delving into this case, I find myself examining the trials of three former executives who held significant positions within their company. The individuals in question are Serge Hascoët, Guillaume Patrix, and Tommy François, each facing varying levels of charges.

Serge Hascoët, the Former Chief Creative Officer, chose to resign in 2020 amid allegations that he made repeated sexist and harassing comments. In a meeting, he reportedly suggested having sexual relations with a senior employee to alleviate her irritation, and jokingly offered a used tissue to a young female employee, saying it was valuable at their company, Ubisoft. Hascoet is also accused of inappropriately questioning a Muslim employee about their stance on ISIS post-the 2015 Paris attacks.

Guillaume Patrix, a former Game Director who was dismissed following an internal investigation, stands accused of psychological harassment. His alleged actions include physically aggressive behavior such as punching walls, mimicking violent acts towards staff, and even setting a man’s beard on fire. Additionally, he is said to have drawn swastikas in a female colleague’s notebook during a meeting.

Lastly, Tommy François, the former Vice President of Editorial and Creative Services, has also been terminated. He faces some of the most disturbing allegations, including playing pornographic films openly in the office, making offensive remarks about female colleagues’ appearances, and attempting to force a female employee to wear a skirt for a handstand demonstration while tying her to a chair and sending her in an elevator to different floors. Other accusations against François include attempting to forcibly kiss a young woman at a Christmas party while others are said to have held her back.

It is said that many employees were too afraid to file complaints, fearing retaliation.

The three defendants all maintain their innocence regarding all accusations leveled against them. In response to the charges, Serge Hascoet’s attorney asserts that his client unequivocally denies any allegations of harassing colleagues at Ubisoft. Meanwhile, Hascoet himself has admitted under questioning, albeit after some time, that certain inappropriate comments were made towards female employees, although he claims to have been unaware of the specific incidents. Business Times is closely monitoring the trial and has reported on this development.

Ubisoft has been trying to project a more positive image

Ubisoft has been striving to project a forward-thinking, inclusive image recently, but this recent lawsuit seems to contradict those efforts significantly.

The company has already found grounds internally to dismiss two out of the three individuals mentioned in the lawsuit. In 2020, when these accusations first surfaced, Ubisoft released a statement about Serge Hascoët stepping down and changes being implemented as part of their ongoing commitment to enhance and strengthen their workplace culture.

Whether or not Ubisoft is genuine in their stance on this matter, the publicity surrounding this case will undoubtedly harm their reputation. This situation shares similarities with the Activision Blizzard sexual harassment case from 2021, which also alleged a toxic work environment akin to a frat house. However, it’s worth noting that the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) later withdrew all allegations of sexual harassment in that case.

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2025-06-05 20:09