Ubisoft Under Fire Over Possible Saudi-Funded DLC Deal - Arabian Post

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Ubisoft employees have challenged company leadership about a possible funding partnership with Saudi Arabia tied to new downloadable content for Assassin's Creed Mirage. Management insists it retains full creative control, but internal concerns focus on ethical and reputational risks.

Workers from Ubisoft's Social and Economic Committee posed questions after the announcement of a free expansion set in AlUla, historically significant as a UNESCO World Heritage site now in what is recognised as Saudi territory. The content was unveiled during the New Global Sport Conference in Riyadh, where CEO Yves Guillemot appeared. Some staff believe that timing and venue suggest financial backing from the Saudi state. They pointed to the Public Investment Fund, which has made large international investments in games and entertainment, as likely involvement.

Internal dialogue reveals unease over connections to individuals or entities accused of serious human rights abuses-most notably the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In a Q&A circulated by employees, one representative asked whether entering a contract“with a person accused of crimes against humanity ... could contribute to the Ubi-bashing the company is currently suffering?” Management responded by saying Guillemot's involvement at events in Riyadh is part of France's“soft power” strategy and that talking with partners who“do not share our democratic values does not mean abandoning them.” The company also tried to distinguish between the PIF's funding and the alleged actions of Saudi leadership.

Ubisoft claims the AlUla expansion was created with both local and international support-historians, experts and cultural organisations-and says creative decisions stayed with its internal teams. Management maintains that there is no direct financial agreement with Savvy Games Group or Saudi Arabia beyond those partnerships required for research and authenticity, although media reports and staff discussion indicate the opposite is under investigation.

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The Saudi Public Investment Fund has expanded its reach through investments in several gaming enterprises, including Savvy Games Group. Critics assert these investments can serve to mask or soften scrutiny over Saudi Arabia's human rights record via high-profile cultural and entertainment ventures-a phenomenon often termed“sportswashing” or cultural diplomacy.

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