Ubisoft Reduces Assassins Creed Hexe Team After Project Cancellation While Shifting To Realistic Scientific Witchcraft Gameplay And Expanding The Franchise
The development team which worked on Assassins Creed Hexe has been reduced by Ubisoft through a staff reduction of 50 employees. The administrative changes which took place at Ubisoft became known to the public through an Insider Gaming report which indicated that the changes belonged to a larger strategy shift which came under new franchise management. The staff reduction occurred because the studio cancelled its internal project named Alterra which had not been publicly announced yet.
The 50 developers affected by this decision have been transitioned into the Ubisoft Interproject team. The internal division functions as a temporary workspace which supports employees who do not have active assignments at this time. According to sources cited by Insider Gaming those moved to the Interproject team are given a three month window to secure a new role within another Ubisoft production. Staff members who do not succeed in obtaining permanent positions during this period will face the risk of becoming redundant.
The personnel changes coincide with a significant pivot in the creative vision for the title. Jean Guesdon who took over the oversight of the franchise earlier this year has reportedly moved to streamline the gameplay mechanics of Hexe. The development team has decided to exclude the previously planned cat companion feature from the final game design. The game adopts a more realistic scientific approach to witchcraft than its earlier design. The protagonist now needs to use her chemical knowledge and early scientific knowledge to reach her objectives. The game world provides access to tools which create smoke bombs that produce the effect of magical disappearance from the sight of ordinary game citizens.
The current production budget requires the project to continue realistic development while its new direction maintains a dedicated realistic tone. The internal schedule currently lists a June 2027 release window industry speculation suggests that the team scaling might lead to a delay. The refined team under Jean Guesdon has started to develop the new project which will release during the 2027 holiday season.
Despite the downsizing of the Hexe team Ubisoft remains committed to a massive expansion of the brand. The company has multiple ongoing projects which include the creation of a multiplayer experience called Invictus. The publisher is currently developing Assassins Creed Black Flag Resynced alongside another project which has not been officially announced. The company plans to produce many new franchise materials until 2027 while it maintains efficient team management for the Hexe project.
