I talked to Ubisoft Devs, it's far worse than we thought

Summary

The video script discusses the internal issues at Ubisoft, including allegations of me-too movement mishandling, leadership problems, and a lack of cultural sensitivity in games like Assassin's Creed Shadows. It highlights the company's disconnect with玩家 feedback and its focus on appeasing critics rather than addressing genuine concerns. The script also covers workplace culture, where fear of HR complaints stifles creativity, leading to a decline in game quality and a lack of innovation.

Takeaways

• 🚩 Ubisoft faces severe internal issues as described by both current and former employees, indicating a deep-rooted leadership problem.
• 🗣️ There's a perception that Ubisoft's leadership disregards the majority of online criticism, attributing it to a 'toxic minority' of gamers.
• 🎮 The game 'Assassin's Creed Shadows' has been criticized for its inaccurate portrayal of Japanese history and culture, including the misuse of Chinese architecture and stealing imagery from a historical reenactment group.
• 📰 An article in the New York Times is criticized for misrepresenting the controversy and focusing on race rather than Ubisoft's disrespect towards Japanese culture.
• 💬 Ubisoft's internal culture is described as 'toxic positivity', which discourages genuine discussion and growth.
• 🌐 The Japanese community's backlash against 'Assassin's Creed Shadows' is acknowledged, highlighting Ubisoft's lack of research and sensitivity.
• 🏢 There's a noted increase in management at Ubisoft, leading to a bloated structure that prioritizes financial targets over quality and innovation.
• 📉 Declining sales are attributed to a focus on casual player sales rather than addressing the concerns of the core gaming community.
• 🛠️ The rapid promotion of inexperienced junior staff over senior engineers has led to a decline in game quality and an increase in bugs.
• 🔥 The company's reputation is severely damaged, with the brand and name being 'torched', and there's a sense of helplessness among developers who want to see change.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the video regarding Ubisoft?

The main issue discussed is the deep-rooted leadership problem at Ubisoft, which has led to a series of controversies and criticisms, including misrepresentation of Japanese culture in Assassin's Creed Shadows and a lack of innovation in their games.

What is the controversy surrounding Assassin's Creed Shadows?

Assassin's Creed Shadows has been criticized for its inaccurate depiction of Japanese history and culture, including using Chinese architecture instead of Japanese and stealing imagery from a historical reenactment group without permission.

How does the New York Times article mentioned in the video misrepresent the controversy?

The article, in collaboration with Ubisoft, misrepresents the controversy by focusing solely on the race of the character Yasuke and ignoring the broader implications of Ubisoft's mishandling of Japanese culture and history.

What is the claim made by the interviewees about Ubisoft's internal response to criticism?

The interviewees claim that Ubisoft's leadership rarely discusses criticism seriously, often dismissing it as 'toxic gamer talk' and showing a lack of understanding of how to differentiate between good and bad criticism.

What is the impact of Ubisoft's leadership on the company's games according to the developers interviewed?

The developers suggest that Ubisoft's leadership is disconnected from player expectations, leading to games that are safe, generic, and lacking in innovation and authenticity.

What does the video suggest about the workplace culture at Ubisoft?

The video suggests that the workplace culture at Ubisoft is characterized by 'toxic positivity,' a fear of HR complaints, and a lack of freedom of thought, expression, and criticism, which stifles creativity and innovation.

How does the video describe the impact of Ubisoft's diversity initiatives on the workplace?

The video describes the diversity initiatives as having not significantly impacted the team's diversity in thought, and instead, has led to a more one-sided environment with topics becoming taboo and an increase in trivial HR complaints.

What is the video's perspective on the state of modern gaming and the audience?

The video suggests that modern gaming has become overly sensitive and safe, leading to a lack of grit and authenticity that players crave. It also criticizes the idea that modern audiences are too soft and quick to take offense.

What does the video claim about the future of Ubisoft?

The video claims that Ubisoft has already lost its way, with its brand and reputation severely damaged. It suggests that the company is more focused on avoiding controversy than creating engaging content, leading to a decline in game quality and innovation.

What is the video's opinion on the delay of Assassin's Creed Shadows?

The video suggests that the delay of Assassin's Creed Shadows might be an attempt by Ubisoft to distance the game from the negative press it has received, rather than just fixing bugs and issues.

How does the video conclude about the role of management at Ubisoft?

The video concludes that Ubisoft's management is bloated and disconnected from the realities of game development and player expectations, leading to a decline in game quality and a lack of innovation.