Reports: Possible hostage-taking in progress at Ubisoft’s Montreal office

A possible hostage-taking is underway at the Ubisoft Montreal offices, according to social media and Canadian media reports. Workers are said to have been hiding in conference rooms, and images from helicopters show some have gone to the roof of the building. Public security vehicles are on the scene with officers involved.

Polygon has contacted representatives of Ubisoft for a statement. the Montreal Police Department confirmed on Twitter that there is a police operation in the area and asked people to stay away. VAT News reported on television that the police department has deployed tactical units, the equivalent of a SWAT team; Armed officers were seen at the scene in news footage. However, the police department has yet to provide details on the nature of the situation.

Eric Pope, a well-known community manager at the studio who works from home at the moment, said he recognized colleagues fleeing to the roof of the building in aerial footage shown on television.

Others on social media had eyewitness reports and details of the scene.

TVA Nouvelles noted that the office building in question is also home to companies other than Ubisoft Montreal, so it is not clear whether the crisis is directly affecting the studio.

Ubisoft Montreal, which exists since 1993 with more than 3,500 employees, is one of the most important studios of the French publisher. He is the main developer on Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the latest entry in the long-running franchise, launched this week.

Development …