Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry maker Ubisoft facing developer ‘exodus’

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla maker Ubisoft is losing developers in what some employees are calling a “great exodus,” according to a new Axios report. Low pay, better opportunities, and frustration with the company’s workplace misconduct allegations are cited as reasons for the higher attrition rate.

Axios interviewed 12 current and former Ubisoft developers about the resignations, noting that five “top 25-credited” developers on Far Cry 6They have left the studio. Twelve people out of the “top 50”-credited developers from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla left, too. But it’s not just big name leads and developers: Axios said Ubisoft’s Canadian studios have seeing losses. Two developers said the resignations have “stalled or slowed projects” at the studio.

Kotaku in November reported that Ubisoft had offered all Canadian employees pay increases in an effort to keep workers away. Anika Grant, chief people officer at Ubisoft, told Axios the increases helped increase retention by half and the retention rate was 12%. However, the raises only applied to Canadian studios, and other Ubisoft developers are frustrated that they haven’t gotten raises.

Activision Blizzard and Ubisoft have been accused of mishandling sexual harassment cases, workplace misconduct, and other issues in recent years. Ubisoft was described in a Kotaku 2020 report as a place where harassment and sexism were accepted.

“[Bosses] constantly emphasized ‘moving on’ and ‘looking forward’ while ignoring the complaints, concerns and cries of their employees,” one developer told Axios.

The departure of workers at Ubisoft appears to be in line with what some are calling “the Great Resignation,” a movement in which people across industries are quitting jobs at record rates. Montreal, home to Ubisoft’s biggest studio with more than 4,000 employees, is an expanding game development hub, making it easier for workers to look for something new in the city they already work in.

Ubisoft has not responded to Polygon’s request for comment, though a spokesperson told Axios that it has hired 2,600 workers since April.