Ubisoft, one of the biggest video game publishers in the market, has been through a number of highly-publicized issues within recent weeks, especially after the release of some disappointing financial results. Now, the company’s CEO has issued an apology for an internal email that was sent to all employees that had some questionable tone and phrasing within it.
According to the email (Kotaku), CEO Yves Guillemot told employees that “the ball is in your court,” which is widely seen as management stepping away from responsibility. Ubisoft Paris employees announced they are planning a strike in response to these comments. In a recent meeting, an employee sent the following question to management staff: “The ball is now in our court—for years it has been in your court so why did you mishandle the ball so badly so we, the workers, have to fix it for you?”
This question is was prompted Guillemot’s apology. At this meeting, he stated, “I heard your feedback and I’m sorry this was perceived that way.” He further added that he wanted to convey the “talent and energy” of the company’s staff, referring to its production process as a “collective journey.” Several sources told Kotaku the apology failed to ease their concerns about where the company is heading, with the meeting being “light on specifics.”
Despite Ubisoft being one of the most well-known video game publishers, it’s struggled in recent months. They’ve had to cancel three unnamed games and delay Skull and Bones again, as well as stating Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope didn’t perform well enough.
Back in 2022, Ubisoft also canceled four other titles, including Ghost Recon: Frontline and Splinter Cell VR, as well as delaying Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.
