The Covid-19 virus's effect on the gaming industry has been increasing day by day. From the cancellation of GDC 2020 to delays of multiple esports tournaments, these issues don’t seem to slow down. Recently, Ubisoft has announced that they will adopt a remote work policy where their employees will work safely from home. Other companies like CD Projekt Red, Nvidia, and Rockstar have also adopted this policy.
In a letter obtained by Kotaku, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot praised its employees for their hard work and dedication in such difficult times. The letter also assured employees that their health is of the utmost importance.
"We are now in a pandemic, with far-reaching effects on our daily lives," Guillemot said in the memo. "At this exceptional juncture, it is essential that we take special care of ourselves and our loved ones. The health and well-being of Ubisoft team members is our primary concern, and we have taken the necessary steps to ensure that all of you are safe and get the right support through these demanding changes.
The letter claims that Ubisoft won’t suffer from any major financial difficulties because of the virus. The company has enough money that it can use to support itself until things get better. If the need arrises, Ubisoft also has resources to shift some of their activities to safer areas. “Ubisoft’s international scope and our collaborative spirit also put us in a position to redeploy some our activities away from affected regions if needs be.” The letter reads.
Guillemot also said that he is proud to be a part of an industry that provides people the means to have enjoyment in such difficult times. "Our core business--video games--enables us to offer a meaningful contribution to all those who currently seek enjoyable ways of spending their time within the confinement of their homes," Guillemot said. You can read the entire letter over here.
You can learn more about the Covid-19 outbreak on the official CDC and WHO websites.
So what do you think? How do you feel about this letter? Do you think working from home is safer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
