Benoit Richer Leaves Ubisoft, Assassin’s Creed Hexe Loses Its Game Director
Assassin’s Creed Hexe has lost its game director, as Benoit Richer leaves Ubisoft to join indie outfit Servo Games. In a recent LinkedIn post, Richer described his move as the “beginning of a new chapter,” noting that Servo is made up of industry veterans united by a shared vision for game creation. His tenure on Hexe appears to have been relatively brief, with news of his appointment emerging only earlier this year. Richer brought notable AAA experience, having previously served as game director on Batman: Arkham Origins and as co‑development director on Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, alongside earlier work on Rainbow Six titles. His departure removes a seasoned systems and execution lead from AC Hexe development at a time when the upcoming Assassin’s Creed game is still publicly light on details and lacks an official title or release window, beyond reports of a distant launch.
Following Clint Hocking’s Exit, Hexe Faces Concentrated Leadership Turnover
Richer’s exit comes only weeks after creative director Clint Hocking left both Assassin’s Creed Hexe and Ubisoft, following a wider restructuring of the franchise’s leadership. After this shakeup, long-time series figure Jean Guesdon stepped in as head of content for Assassin’s Creed and also assumed the role of creative director on Hexe itself. Guesdon is best known for his work on several acclaimed entries, including a co‑director role on Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, which is now receiving a remake led by Ubisoft Singapore. While neither Ubisoft nor the departing leads have publicly suggested internal conflict, the fact remains that Hexe has now cycled through both a creative director and a game director in short succession. For a premium project positioned as one of multiple flagship Assassin’s Creed titles in development, that level of change at the top is unusually concentrated and inevitably draws scrutiny.
How Losing a Creative and Game Director Can Reshape a AAA Project
In large-scale AAA development, the creative director defines the overarching artistic and narrative vision, while the game director is responsible for translating that vision into concrete systems, levels and mechanics. Ubisoft itself has underscored this division of labour, highlighting the distinct roles when confirming recent leadership changes around Hexe. When both positions shift mid‑development, the impact can cascade across a project’s tone, scope and timeline. A new creative lead may refine or redirect narrative priorities; a new game director might rethink how progression, combat or stealth support that revised vision. Even if the high‑level pitch remains intact, teams often need time to realign tools, pipelines and milestones with new leadership. For AC Hexe development, this could mean adjustments to schedules, internal roadmaps and feature priorities rather than outright reinvention, but it almost certainly adds complexity to an already ambitious production.
Implications for Assassin’s Creed Hexe’s Vision and Potential Release Timing
Ubisoft has been clear that Assassin’s Creed Hexe is being “built with great care” by a veteran team at Ubisoft Montreal, and that the studio is taking its time to deliver on an ambitious vision. Publicly, Hexe still lacks an official name or release window, though reports have suggested a possible Holiday 2027 launch. Leadership changes can push such internal targets, particularly if new decision‑makers want to iterate on core systems or narrative structure. With Guesdon now serving as both franchise head of content and Hexe’s creative director, he is uniquely positioned to stabilise direction, but his dual responsibilities could also slow day‑to‑day decisions. Players should expect an extended period of relative quiet, as Ubisoft has already signalled it will not rush disclosures. Delays or timeline shifts would not be surprising, even if they are never formally attributed to recent Ubisoft leadership changes.
What We Know About Hexe’s Darker Setting—and the Questions Fans Should Ask
Despite the turnover, the broad pitch for Assassin’s Creed Hexe remains compelling. Ubisoft describes the upcoming Assassin’s Creed game as a “unique, darker, narrative driven” experience set during a pivotal historical moment. Reports point to a 17th‑century German setting amid witch trials, with players allegedly taking on the role of Elsa, a witch who aligns with the Assassins for reasons that remain unknown. That premise suggests a more grounded, horror‑tinged approach compared to recent entries. With Richer gone, fans should be asking how closely the final design will hew to that early concept. Will stealth and investigation take precedence over sprawling RPG systems? Can the team maintain coherence of vision after multiple director changes? And, crucially, will Hexe’s darker themes be supported by mechanics that feel distinct within the series, rather than another iteration on familiar open‑world formula?