Ubisoft has called off its plans to hold a major Rainbow Six Siege tournament in the United Arab Emirates, following a backlash by fans.
The event, announced on Sunday, was to be held in Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE – a country often criticised for its human rights record.
There are numerous reports detailing examples of the country’s forced disappearances and torture. Amnesty International has called for the country’s “secret prisons” to be investigated as war crimes. Homosexuality is a crime in the country, and results in imprisonment or death.
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A fan petition said Ubisoft’s decision to hold a Rainbow Six tournament in the UAE was “short-sighted, dangerous and backwards to the developing ideology of esports” considering the “inclusion of LGBTQ+ members of Rainbow Six: Siege talent”.
Last night, Ubisoft backtracked on the decision in a statement issued via its Rainbow Six esports Twitter, but also defended its initial plan. The now-scrapped event had been put together following “extensive discussions” with local organisers and the UAE government to ensure player safety, the publisher said.
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— Rainbow Six Esports (@R6esports) February 22, 2022
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Ubisoft’s full statement lies below:
“Last Sunday, we announced our plans to organize a Six Major in the United Arab Emirates,” Ubisoft wrote. “Over the past six years, we’ve seen the emergence of an enthusiastic competitive Rainbow Six Siege scene in the MENA [Middle East and North Africa] region, a community of local players and fans we wanted to highlight and celebrate.