Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed* franchise has lost another key creative leader as Clint Hocking, the veteran director behind Far Cry 2, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, and the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Hexe, has left the company. His departure follows a wave of senior creative departures—including Marc-Alexis Côté and Julian Gerighty—and comes amid Ubisoft’s recent restructuring, which has already led to project delays and cancellations, such as the shelved Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake.
The news was confirmed through a statement from Ubisoft, which acknowledged Hocking’s contributions while signaling continuity in Hexe’s development. Jean Guesdon, the Head of Content for the Assassin’s Creed brand, is now stepping in as acting Creative Director for the project. Development remains on track, though the game’s release—previously rumored for 2026—faces uncertainty in the wake of broader shifts within Ubisoft’s pipeline.
Hocking’s career at Ubisoft spanned nearly two decades, split into two stints. His first tenure (2001–2010) included leadership on Far Cry 2 and Chaos Theory, followed by a brief but influential period at LucasArts, Valve, and Amazon Game Studios. He rejoined Ubisoft in 2015, where he directed Watch Dogs: Legion before taking the helm of Hexe at Ubisoft Montreal.
While Hexe was first teased in 2022 as part of a slate of upcoming Assassin’s Creed titles, concrete details remain scarce. The project’s delay—now likely tied to Ubisoft’s restructuring—highlights the challenges of maintaining momentum in a franchise known for its ambitious, long-development cycles.
- Departure: Clint Hocking, Creative Director of Assassin’s Creed Hexe, has left Ubisoft.
- Replacement: Jean Guesdon (Head of Assassin’s Creed Content) is now acting Creative Director.
- Project status: Development continues, but release timelines remain unclear.
- Background: Hocking’s prior work includes Far Cry 2, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, and Watch Dogs: Legion.
- Broader context: Part of Ubisoft’s ongoing major reset, which has seen multiple senior creative departures and project cancellations.
The departure underscores a broader trend at Ubisoft, where long-serving creative leads—many of whom shaped the company’s most iconic franchises—are transitioning to new roles. While individual contributions are significant, the stability of Ubisoft’s development pipeline now hangs on how effectively leadership transitions are managed.
For Hexe, the immediate focus remains on delivering a distinct vision for the Assassin’s Creed* series, though the lack of concrete updates suggests the project may be recalibrating its scope or timeline. Ubisoft has not yet confirmed a new release window, leaving fans and industry observers to speculate about the game’s ultimate form.
