Three former Ubisoft executives accused of sexual assault, racial harassment, and threatening behavior have all received suspended prison sentences and fines.
Serge Hascoët, Ubisoft’s former chief creative officer and previously the right-hand man to company boss Yves Guillemot, along with former editorial head Thomas François and game designer Guillaume Patrux, all departed in 2020 amid a wave of allegations that resulted in their resignations or dismissals.
Details revealed during court proceedings included accusations that Hascoët made racist remarks toward a Muslim employee following the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks, with the same worker experiencing racial harassment on other occasions under his supervision. Other female employees cited uncomfortable and vulgar conduct from the executive.
Serge Hascoët exits the courtroom in Bobigny, Paris, on June 2. Image credit: Xavier Galiana/AFP via Getty ImagesAs Ubisoft’s former second-in-command, Hascoët was also accused of fostering a toxic work environment that allowed his protégé François to act with impunity, according to Libération. He reportedly treated staff degradingly, such as requiring an assistant to make a lengthy return trip on her day off just to retrieve an iPad.
François faced allegations of regularly watching adult videos at work, kissing colleagues, and making sexual remarks. One specific claim involved a Christmas party where he allegedly forced himself on a young employee. Other instances of degrading behavior included tying a staff member to a chair and forcing a colleague to cut his toenails.
Patrux was accused of exhibiting violent and intimidating behavior toward coworkers.
Hascoët received an 18-month suspended sentence and a €45,000 ($53,000) fine for complicity in moral harassment. François was given a three-year suspended sentence and a €30,000 ($35,000) fine after being found guilty of attempted sexual assault. Patrux received a 12-month suspended sentence and a €10,000 ($11,700) fine.
Ubisoft declined to comment when contacted by IGN.
