Assassin's Creed Hexe lost game director Benoit Richer in April 2024 when he left Ubisoft to co-found indie studio Servo Games alongside other veterans of the company [1, 2]. Richer described his move as "the beginning of a new chapter," saying, "I’m joining Servo Games as Game Director! An indie studio of industry veterans, aligned around a shared vision of the industry and experience creation, with a strong complementary skill set" [2].
Richer's departure follows the February exit of Hexe's creative director Clint Hocking, who Ubisoft publicly thanked for his "vision, creative contributions, and dedication" and wished well for his future [1]. Jean Guesdon has taken over as Hexe's creative director after Hocking's departure [1, 2]. Under Guesdon's leadership, game direction and design reportedly shifted to remove "magical" gameplay elements, including the ability to control a cat, marking a turn toward a darker and more narrative-driven tone set during historic witch trials [1, 3].
In April 2024, Ubisoft also moved approximately 50 Hexe developers off the project to an interproject team as part of internal restructuring [3]. An Ubisoft spokesperson said that "mobility across teams is a standard part of how we operate. As project priorities change, team members may transition from one project to another where their expertise is needed," reflecting evolving development priorities [3].
Hexe remains a relatively mysterious project within the Assassin's Creed franchise, aiming for a darker, narrative-focused experience during the period of historical witch trials [1, 2]. The planned release date is June 2027, though Ubisoft acknowledges a possible slip to later that year [3].
Assassin's Creed franchise also plans to release the Black Flag remake "Black Flag Resynced" on July 9, 2024 [1].
Earlier, former franchise lead Marc-Alexis Côté left Ubisoft and Hexe in 2023 and is reportedly suing the company [1].
The Hexe project continues under new creative leadership, with Ubisoft expected to share further details in the future [1].
