Charlie Guillemot and Rémi Pellerin, studio co-heads of Ubisoft-owned Owlient, have both stepped down. That’s according to an Axios report that said the move was announced internally last week.
“We can confirm that Rémi Pellerin and Charlie Guillemot have stepped down from their roles at Owlient to pursue new opportunities,” an Ubisoft spokesperson told GamesIndustry.biz. “We wish them all the best for their future endeavors.”
Guillemot and Pellerin co-headed Owlient since 2014. Specializing in free-to-play browser and mobile games, Owlient was acquired by Ubisoft in 2011. Its latest game, Tom Clancy’s Elite Squad, faced criticism last summer after a Black Power symbol was used as the logo for an in-game terrorist group. Ubisoft eventually removed the symbol and issued a statement apologizing for the deeply troubling imagery which came at the height of BLM protests.
Axios reported that sources say Guillemot and Pellerin will start a new game studio outside of Ubisoft. Charlie Guillemot is the song of Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, with some pointing out that Charlie received his appointment as Owlient co-head soon after finishing grad school.
Guillemot’s departure comes soon after the elder Guillemot issued an open letter Regarding Ubisoft’s efforts to mend a toxic work culture. Allegations broke last summer that Ubisoft executives routinely harassed and sidelined female co-workers and were then protected by Ubisoft’s HR department. The scandal led to an internal review, a rework of the company’s code of conduct, and several high-profile departures.
Although Yves’ letter pointed out many new executive appointments and company initiatives such as internal surveys, anonymous reporting hotlines, and mandatory anti-sexism training, a recent report from French publication Le Telegramme revealed many Ubisoft employees feel that “nothing has changed” within the company. Misbehaving executives are still misbehaving and still receiving protection from Ubisoft’s highest levels, while employees that report toxic behavior are continually sidelined.
The report has led to a renewed call to boycott Ubisoft under the hashtag #HoldUbisoftAccountable.