Rayman Creator, Beyond Good and Evil Michelle Ansel, 2 director, and longtime Ubisoft P Michel Ansel, retired from the video game publisher earlier this month while being investigated for toxic behavior, according to a new report in a French newspaper. Liberation.
Ansel, who has been with the company for over 30 years, Announced last Friday That he was eventually leaving to work in a wildlife sanctuary. Liberation Reports now, And Ansel has Confirmed in an interview with the newspaper, That it was during the investigation of a complaint by Ubisoft that it had a toxic management style. Good and Evil Beyond 2.
Ubisoft has confirmed this in a statement Kotku:
[Ubisoft CEO] Yves Gillemot promised back in July that any allegations would be investigated and no one would be left out of the process – and that would include Mitchell Ansel. And as Michelle confirms to reporters on “Liberation,” her investigation is ongoing. The investigation is still ongoing and we have nothing left to share as we respect the privacy of this stock.
This Liberation The report, which details developments in the game over the past seven years, is being shared by Ubisoft employees who have accused Joensel of working so hard with other managers to eventually limit the number of people they had to contact. they came. . He also blames Angel’s project management for the unusual amount of fatigue, frustration and burnout experienced by his team members, reportedly involving constant changes in scope and rework.
“He is able to convince you that you are talented, that your idea is wonderful, then to bring you to the meeting, saying that you are nothing but shit, your work is worth nothing, and not a month to talk to you,” a source said. Told the newspaper.
In an interview with LiberationAnsel said he is unaware that people feel this way, and he just seems to admit that the general difficulties associated with creating an ambitious big-budget game reached Ubisoft Montpellier where Good and Evil Beyond 2 Is evolving. “Suffering is on both sides. Yes, it’s difficult and there are people who are sad, “Ansel said LiberationBased on translation by Kotku. It went on:
We can work out the terms if you want. For me, sadness is probably more profound. Of course, it’s terrible when someone is in burnout. Of course, when someone closes a project after so many years, it’s a part of their life that goes away. I do not devalue it, but you have to consider the context of such a design, its ambition, its complexity.
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Ansel says he was notified of an investigation into his behavior in early August by Ubisoft CEO Yves Gulemot. Liberation Ga describes being close friends with Ansel. It was about a month after Ubisoft responded Extensive reports of sexual harassment, misconduct and abusive behavior by certain employees in the company By hiring outside companies to investigate the allegations. Chief creative officer Serge Hascoat was one of the accused in the misconduct And later resigned, While many others were terminated or separated from the company.
Said an employee Liberation They thought that this comprehensive calculation at Ubisoft would eventually force them to resolve issues with Ansel. Instead, the paper reports that Gillemont confirmed in late August that Ansel’s presence was “non-negotiable.”
(After his original statement regarding today Liberation Story, sent a spokesperson for Ubisoft Kotku The following additional statement: “Reporting to Mitchell they were investigating at the beginning of the gust, since Yves has not been in contact with him or discussed it with the other and E2 team until his departure is announced.”)
By the morning of September 18, with or without negotiations, Ansel announced its retirement from gaming. In an Instagram post.
According to Liberation, The same day he walked alive, the same day he attended a multi-hour session to answer questions in an investigation of his behavior. It was also on the same day that Ubisoff issued a press release announcing Pew’s departure without mentioning that he was being investigated.
In his interview, Ansel said Liberation He split the company with his contract and his only regret is that it has not expired Good and Evil Beyond 2 Coming soon.
Updated – 7:04 pm ET, 9/25/2020: Michelle Ansel responded to today’s report Liberation On Instagram this evening Call it “fake news”.
Ansel went on to say:
Take a few furious and jealous people and let them speak in the name of hundreds. Publish the news quickly so that it connects to the sexual harassment of other news on UB Soft. Is Is this serious? Do you expect this from a national newspaper? I will fight for the truth because such allegations are shameful. I worked hard on each of my projects and had respect forever Teams. The allegations are false.
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