1. Ubisoft’s Hiring Illusion
Ubisoft has positioned itself as a beacon of diversity and inclusion — but its actual hiring practices rely heavily on:
- Internal pipelines from partnered institutions (mostly Montreal-based)
- Gamified recruitment events that turn hiring into PR showcases
- Performative diversity efforts post-scandal, with no transparency
The result? A closed loop. Creators who don't fit the aesthetic, demographic, or regional mold — especially Indigenous developers — are shown off as "potential" but not hired as equals.
2. Red River College as a Local Pipeline
RRC's Game Development program, while framed as inclusive, reflects these Ubisoft-style tactics. Applicants are judged without clear rubrics, and admissions are influenced by unspoken factors like internal familiarity or pre-arranged placements for international students.
In 2025, I submitted a full-stack portfolio with game-ready builds, a Firebase CMS, multiple JavaScript games, and a Unity-based GDD. I was ranked 10th. The 10th seat went to a previously arranged international applicant. I was never given formal reasoning.
3. Surprise Guests and "Game Show" Gatekeeping
Performative admissions and hiring rely on theatrics: special guests, surprise jurors, and vague praise without results. These tactics:
- Shift responsibility for rejection onto the applicant
- Create the illusion of fair competition
- Hide institutional biases behind PR events
This happened with my RRC submission. After weeks of prep, I was told I performed well — but was simply "just outside the range" of the final seat. No formal scores, no feedback, just narrative shaping.
4. Winnipeg’s Creative Scene: Small and Controlled
Winnipeg is a small creative tech scene. Everyone knows everyone. When graduate lists go up, and programs are marketed via the same WordPress templates year after year, it's easy to track who gets boosted — and who doesn't.
My own work outpaces most of the program’s showcase pieces. I say that with confidence, not arrogance. I've built what most people would need teams for — with no institutional support.
5. Public Data, Public Comparisons
This site makes fair use of publicly listed graduate work, student showcase entries, and live portfolios. Everything is cited, anonymized where appropriate, and blurred in video documentation. This is not harassment. This is open critique — of an ecosystem that pretends to be open.
6. What Now?
We need:
- Transparent admissions rubrics
- Published hiring metrics from Ubisoft Canada
- Public-facing comparisons of graduate employment outcomes
- Spaces for Indigenous creators to build, publish, and thrive — without institutional choke points
This isn’t about getting a seat. It’s about showing what happens when gatekeeping fails — and the work shines anyway.