Former Ubisoft Executives Detained Amid Ongoing Probe into Workplace Misconduct

French authorities have taken five former Ubisoft executives into custody following a lengthy investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment within the gaming company. According to reports from the French newspaper Libération, three of the former executives were detained yesterday, with the remaining two being taken into custody today. The list of those arrested includes former chief creative officer Serge Hascoët and ex-VP of editorial and creative services Tommy François, both of whom departed the company in the summer of 2020 amidst allegations of widespread abuse and harassment. The arrests come after complaints were filed by the Solidaires Informatique union and two victims in the summer of 2021, with the case being handled by the public prosecutor's office in Bobigny, a suburb of Paris. The plaintiff's lawyer, Maude Beckers, stated that the case exposes a systemic issue of sexual violence, rather than isolated incidents. When reached for comment, a Ubisoft spokesperson replied that the company is unaware of the details and therefore cannot provide a statement.