Ex-Ubisoft Bosses Convicted Over Workplace Harassment

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In 2020, Serge Hascoët, Ubisoft’s chief creative officer, and Tommy François, vice president of editorial and creative services, left the company after allegations of abuse surfaced. Three years later, they were both apprehended during an investigation led by French authorities. The trial has concluded, and both Francois, Hascoet, and another former Ubisoft executive, Guillaume Patrux, have been found guilty.

The trio received suspended prison sentences for contributing to an environment of sexual and psychological harassment, according to Courthouse News Service. Specifically, Francois was found guilty of attempted sexual assault and was sentenced to three years in prison on a suspended basis. Throughout the trial, it emerged that Francois had sexually harassed both male and female employees, including instances where he inappropriately touched their private areas.

In the verdict, Hascoet received a reduced suspended sentence of 18 months, whereas Patrux was given a 12-month suspended sentence, both being penalized for individually harassing their team members. All three individuals were additionally instructed to pay fines: Hascoet was fined 45,000 euros, Francois 30,000 euros, and Patrux 10,000 euros.

Despite having parted ways with several key employees, Ubisco has faced challenges in recent years. A wave of unrest among French workers followed a contentious return-to-office mandate, while reports of misconduct surfaced at one of Ubisoft’s satellite studios. This year, Ubisoft entered into a strategic partnership with Tencent for the management of three flagship series: Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six. Furthermore, Ubisoft has postponed several games and announced that there will be no Ubisoft Forward event this summer.

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2025-07-03 23:39