Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has spoken out about “malicious and private on-line assaults” which were directed at his staff and companions, citing it as one in every of his main considerations within the video games business in the mean time.
Guillemot gave a wide-ranging interview that was posted on the Ubisoft website on Thursday, talking about numerous subjects together with the way forward for Assassin’s Creed, XDefiant, and extra. He was additionally requested what dismays him concerning the business at present, and pointed particularly to on-line harassment in response.
“One factor I’m involved about proper now’s the malicious and private on-line assaults which were directed at a few of our group members and companions,” Guillemot mentioned. “I need to make it clear that we, at Ubisoft, condemn these hateful acts within the strongest attainable phrases, and I encourage the remainder of the business and gamers to denounce them, too.”
While Guillemot did not point out Assassin’s Creed Shadows particularly, his feedback observe backlash to the sport’s male protagonist, a samurai based mostly on the historic Black samurai Yasuke. Some pulled AC Shadows into ongoing harassment campaigns focusing on variety, fairness, and inclusion (DEI) efforts on social media, which the International Game Developers Association (IDGA) condemned in a press release in March.
As for what excites him concerning the video games business, Guillemot pointed to evolving know-how: “If, as recreation makers, we will undertake and grasp technological developments like generative AI and the cloud extra rapidly, we shall be significantly better positioned to create new, stand-out experiences for gamers,” he mentioned.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows will launch on November 12 for these with Ubisoft+ Premium, or those that bought the Gold or the Ultimate Edition, and can in any other case be obtainable on November 15.
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing leisure reporting. When she’s not writing or modifying, you could find her studying fantasy novels or enjoying Dungeons & Dragons.
