DEI Did Not Harm Ubisoft, Says Former Employee

Over the past few years, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in Western game development has become a frequent topic. While some titles have avoided controversy, others have sparked intense debate, reshaping online perceptions. Ubisoft, in particular, has faced DEI-related criticisms, even prompting boycott calls. However, Kensuke Shimoda, who contributed to Assassin's Creed: Osaka at Ubisoft Japan from 2021 to 2024, offers a different perspective. Shimoda believes DEI initiatives have benefited the company by broadening its audience and improving its workplace environment. He dismisses rumors that Ubisoft's stock price declined due to its focus on DEI, stating definitively that DEI advocates had limited influence. Shimoda asserts that DEI initiatives led to workplace improvements and facilitated expansion into new markets like South America and the Middle East. He attributes marketing and creative challenges not to DEI, but to a common issue in large companies: a lack of senior staff experienced in developing free-to-play, mobile, and online games, caused by long employee tenures.

Challenges of Ubisoft's Global Diversity Efforts Amidst Linguistic and Cultural Barriers

Shimoda also cites the unique challenges Ubisoft faces as a French company establishing international offices, especially in non-French-speaking regions. He cautions against blaming DEI efforts for the company's problems based on online conspiracy theories. Instead, he suggests the core issue lies in being a French company managing global studios and sharing values and knowledge across studios. This challenge is amplified when the primary language across those studios is French.

In Case You Missed It

As the gaming world continues to thrive and evolve, there's always plenty happening behind the scenes. Take Ubisoft, for instance; Carlos Mendoza has just published an insightful piece, "Ubisoft Crisis Encompasses Employee Revolt and Threat of Mass Exodus," detailing the challenges employees are facing following years of restructuring efforts Ubisoft Crisis Encompasses Employee Revolt and Threat of Mass Exodus. Meanwhile, Ubisoft fans will be thrilled to hear that from January 23 to 26, they're offering a free trial of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora across all platforms (except Steam), giving players up to 5 hours of gameplay and introducing a highly-requested third-person camera mode. Mark your calendars and dive in with Sophie Laurent's post 'Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is Free on All Platforms' Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is Free on All Platforms. Lastly, Nintendo fans have been celebrating the remarkable success of the Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S., with Carlos Mendoza reporting that it sold over 4.4 million units within its first seven months. Check out his piece 'Nintendo Switch 2 Sold 4.4 Million Units in the US in 2025' for all the details on this impressive sales milestone Nintendo Switch 2 Sold 4.4 Million Units in the US in 2025.