Clint Hocking, Creative Director of Ubisoft’s Splinter Cell, Far Cry, and Assassin’s Creed Hexe, Departures from the Company

Another Veteran Leaves Ubisoft Amid Restructuring

Ubisoft is undergoing significant changes as part of its recent organizational restructuring, which follows a major company-wide reset announced last month. In a notable development, Clint Hocking, a long-time developer known for his pivotal roles as creative director on titles such as Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, Far Cry 2, and Watch Dogs: Legion, has officially left the company. Most recently, he was overseeing the much-anticipated Assassin’s Creed: Hexe.

According to VGC, Hocking’s departure marks another loss for Ubisoft’s creative leadership. Upon reaching out for confirmation, Ubisoft issued a statement acknowledging Hocking’s departure:

“Clint Hocking, Creative Director on Assassin’s Creed Codename Hexe, will be departing Ubisoft. We sincerely thank him for his vision, creative contributions, and dedication over the years, and we wish him the very best in his next chapter. Development on Assassin’s Creed Codename Hexe continues with a seasoned team. The game will deliver something distinctive within the Assassin’s Creed franchise.Jean Guesdon, Head of Content for the Assassin’s Creed brand, is now acting as the Creative Director on the project. We look forward to sharing more information in the future.”

Impact on Assassin’s Creed: Hexe

The announcement of Hexe in 2022, alongside other upcoming entries in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, has generated excitement. However, reports suggest the game’s release has now been pushed back to 2026. This delay appears to coincide with Ubisoft’s broader restructuring efforts, which have included notable cancellations like the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake.

Hocking’s Career at Ubisoft

Clint Hocking’s tenure at Ubisoft has spanned two significant periods. He devoted nearly a decade to the company, where he instigated transformative development on standout titles before venturing to LucasArts, Valve, and Amazon Game Studios. Rejoining Ubisoft in 2015, he led the creative team at Ubisoft Toronto for Watch Dogs: Legion, later transitioning to the Montreal studio to focus on Hexe.

The Changing Landscape at Ubisoft

Hocking’s exit adds to the list of experienced industry veterans departing Ubisoft, which already includes figures like Marc-Alexis Côté and Julian Gerighty. While Gerighty has moved on to the Battlefield franchise, there remains uncertainty about the future career paths of Hocking and Côté. Their departures reflect a significant shift in Ubisoft’s creative leadership dynamics.

The Broader Implications

In a large organization like Ubisoft, attributing the success or failure of a project solely to individual contributors is a difficult undertaking. However, the exit of seasoned executives raises questions regarding employee morale and the company’s direction. This trend of losing long-standing staff members could indicate deeper issues within the company structure and vision.

As Ubisoft continues to reshape its creative teams, stakeholders and fans alike will watch closely to see how these changes affect the company’s future projects, including the highly anticipated developments in the Assassin’s Creed series.

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