Veteran Assassins’ Creed developer Jean Guesdon introduced he’s leaving Ubisoft after 17 years on Thursday. A inventive director on a few of the most beloved entries within the franchise together with Murderer’s Creed IV: Black Flag, his is the newest high-profile departure at a writer at present struggling to beat delays and cancellations.
“Good day everybody, 2023 will begin for me with the tip of a bit greater than 17 formidable years at Ubisoft Montreal,” Guesdon posted on LinkedIn as we speak. “I can’t categorical how a lot I owe to this distinctive firm. So many individuals met, so many expertise discovered and so many initiatives shipped. And Murderer’s Creed, in fact Murderer’s Creed.”
He thanked the corporate and signed the be aware with a smiling emoji, however didn’t trace at the place he is perhaps headed subsequent. Up till now, Guesdon had spent the final 5 years as inventive director on an undisclosed recreation at Ubisoft Montreal. Kotaku understands it to be codenamed Renaissance, a collaborative voxel-based recreation with shades of Minecraft. Three former Ubisoft builders with data of the undertaking advised Kotaku they thought of it to be one of many extra promising initiatives within the pipeline on the firm, although it’s unclear how Guesdon leaving may have an effect on it.
Ubisoft lately cancelled a number of unannounced initiatives alongside broader cost-cutting measures because it seeks to refocus consideration and assets on a few of its greater and extra established franchises. Ubisoft didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. Guesdon declined to remark.
Beginning at Ubisoft as a undertaking coordinator on the unique Murderer’s Creed, Guesdon rose up the ranks to recreation designer on Murderer’s Creed 2 and later head of content material for the franchise. Most notably, he was a inventive director on Murderer’s Creed IV: Black Flag and Murderer’s Creed Origins alongside Ashraf Ismail (who now works at Tencent after being fired from Ubisoft over misconduct allegations).
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Again in 2018, Guesdon offered an summary to Kotaku of how Ubisoft managed to provide a large new Murderer’s Creed recreation virtually yearly, a course of that concerned a number of lead studios and an unlimited community of help places of work. Extra lately, the franchise has taken longer in-between new entries, with Ubisoft as an alternative prolonging the post-launch life of every one by means of tons of DLC and seasonal updates.
Guesdon’s resignation, although seemingly amicable, comes at a time when some inside Ubisoft are apprehensive in regards to the writer’s capability to draw and retain veteran expertise. Axios reported on an “exodus” of builders in 2021, together with “AC lifers” like recreation director Eric Baptizat and franchise artwork director Raphael Lacoste. Baptizat is now at EA Motive, whereas Lacoste is now at Haven, newer Montreal recreation studios each based by one other Ubisoft veteran, Jade Raymond.
Not everyone seems to be leaving although, and at a latest inside all-hands chief individuals officer Anika Grant advised workers that attrition amongst senior builders on the firm had steadily fallen again down in latest months. Some builders, like longtime Murderer’s Creed narrative director Darby McDevitt, have even returned. Final fall, Ubisoft revealed that a number of new Murderer’s Creed video games are on the horizon, alongside cellular spinoffs and a Netflix adaption.