Ubisoft leadership exodus deepens as Vantage restructure claims second Hexe director
Summary
Clint Hocking, Creative Director of AC Codename Hexe, has left Ubisoft following its Vantage Studios restructure
Second high-profile exit from Hexe in four months - Marc-Alexis Côté left in October, sued for "constructive dismissal" in January
Jean Guesdon, new AC Head of Content, steps in as third creative lead on a single unannounced title
"Development on Assassin's Creed Codename Hexe continues with a seasoned team."
01
Vantage Studios transition is the common variable in both exits
Both Hocking and Côté departed after the AC brand transferred to Tencent-backed Vantage Studios
Côté's "constructive dismissal" lawsuit creates a legal record that restructuring conditions drove exits
Ubisoft's broader reorganization has already closed multiple studios worldwide
Hocking led Far Cry 2, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, Watch Dogs Legion - senior creative capital now visibly leaving
02
Hexe faces elevated delivery risk under its third creative lead
Announced in 2022 as a horror-oriented, tonally distinct AC entry - high-concept bets depend on stable creative vision
Guesdon brings Black Flag and Origins credentials but inherits a project in flux rather than originating it
CEO Guillemot confirmed Hexe is one of "several" simultaneous AC titles, raising resource allocation questions
No disclosed release window, budget, or development stage compounds the uncertainty
03
Two departures plus litigation in four months is a governance signal
One lawsuit and two named exits from the same project within one quarter is quantifiable retention risk
Vantage Studios structure and Tencent involvement correlate with the exits - a governance indicator, not a talent market story
Partners evaluating Ubisoft exposure should flag undisclosed Hexe milestones as a diligence gap
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