In a notable shift within the development team of the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Hexe, game director Benoit Richer has announced his departure from the project. This marks the second high-profile exit from the team this year, following the earlier departure of creative director Clint Hocking in February. Richer shared his career transition on LinkedIn, indicating a new chapter ahead.
Richer is not stepping away from game development entirely; he is co-founding a new studio, Servo Games, alongside three other former Ubisoft developers: Luc Tremblay, Danny Marcoux, and Alex Droun. This move highlights a growing trend of industry veterans seeking to carve out new paths after their time at larger studios.
Shifting Directions for Assassin’s Creed
Ubisoft has characterized Assassin’s Creed Hexe as a departure from the open-world, action-RPG format that has defined the franchise since 2017’s Origins. While the specifics of this new direction remain somewhat ambiguous, it certainly piques the interest of fans eager for innovation within the series.
In the meantime, the franchise continues to evolve with the recent reveal of Black Flag Resynced, a remake of the beloved Assassin’s Creed 4. Scheduled for release on July 9, this title has been the subject of speculation for some time, and it appears to retain the series’ signature intensity, including its trademark bloodshed.
The Assassin’s Creed franchise has seen significant leadership changes recently. Last year, Marc-Alexis Côté, the former overall franchise boss, departed Ubisoft amid a contentious exit. Côté has since filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging “constructive dismissal” and seeking .3 million Canadian in damages, a situation that underscores the challenges within the gaming industry.
As the Assassin’s Creed series navigates these transitions, both fans and industry observers will be keenly watching how these developments shape the future of one of gaming’s most iconic franchises.
