Ubisoft Montpellier Under Investigation Amid Labour Concerns and Staff Departures

The development of Beyond Good and Evil 2 has hit another roadblock as Ubisoft Montpellier's managing director, Guillaume Carmona, has parted ways with the studio amidst allegations of labour issues. The reason behind Carmona's departure remains undisclosed due to confidentiality, but it coincides with the studio undergoing a labour inspection. This investigation was prompted by an unusually high number of developers experiencing burnout and taking sick leave. According to sources, dozens of staff members left the Montpellier studio last year following extended periods of leave, leading to a labour inspection in December. In response, Ubisoft stated that the development team is undergoing well-being assessments as a precautionary measure to identify areas where additional support may be necessary. The studio has also seen shifts in the game's leadership, with changes in the senior creative director and game director positions. These developments follow previous reports of a toxic culture at Ubisoft Montpellier, including allegations against Beyond Good and Evil creator Michel Ancel, who has since left the studio. Recently, Ubisoft's company culture and working conditions have come under scrutiny, including the cancellation and delay of several projects, a comment from the CEO that was perceived as encouraging overtime, and a strike by nearly 40 employees from Ubisoft Paris demanding better working conditions.