• New Studio Hub: Ubisoft has established Vantage Studios, a dedicated home designed to anchor the future of the Assassin’s Creed franchise.
  • The "Trio of Experts": Industry veterans Jean Guesdon, Martin Schelling, and François de Billy are taking the lead.
  • Creative Homecoming: Jean Guesdon, the creative mind behind Black Flag and Origins, returns as Head of Content.
  • Strategic Leadership: Martin Schelling takes over as Head of Brand, while François de Billy moves to Head of Production Excellence.
  • Full Transition: The new leadership team, which includes Andrée-Anne Boisvert and Lionel Hiller, will fully transition into their roles within the next few weeks.

Ubisoft Consolidates the Brotherhood: Vantage Studios Emerges

In a move that signals a massive shift in how Ubisoft manages its flagship IP, the publisher has officially formed Vantage Studios. This isn't just another satellite office; it’s being positioned as the central nervous system for the Assassin’s Creed series. We’ve seen the franchise balloon into a sprawling RPG behemoth over the last few years, and this structural change suggests Ubisoft is finally looking to tighten the reigns on its "long-term vision."

For those of us who have been synchronization-climbing since 2007, the names attached to this move are a massive confidence boost. We’re looking at a leadership "dream team" composed of the architects who built the series' most successful eras.

The Return of the Master Assassin: Jean Guesdon

The most significant win for Vantage Studios is the return of Jean Guesdon. Stepping into the role of Head of Content, Guesdon is a developer who actually understands the DNA of the series. Having served as Creative Director for Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag—still arguably the GOAT of pirate games—and Assassin’s Creed Origins, his fingerprints are on the franchise's most successful pivots.

Guesdon himself noted that "being back feels like coming home." After a brief stint away from the series, his return is a game-changer for fans worried that the narrative soul of the franchise was getting lost in the "map-marker fatigue" of recent entries. If Guesdon can bring back the focused world-building of the 2017 soft-reboot, the next chapter of the series is in safe hands.

Production and Strategy: The New High Command

While Guesdon handles the creative side, the business and execution arms are being reinforced by Martin Schelling and François de Billy. Our take? This is Ubisoft's way of ensuring the massive scale of these games doesn't lead to the technical bloat or development hell that often plagues triple-A RPGs.

Martin Schelling: Head of Brand

Schelling, previously the Chief Production Officer, is now tasked with the "overall strategy and development" of the entire franchise. With a resume that includes producing Assassin’s Creed Revelations, he’s a veteran who knows how to manage the brand’s identity across multiple media. He’s the one holding the compass for where the series goes next.

François de Billy: Head of Production Excellence

If you’re tired of day-one bugs or inconsistent performance, de Billy is the man to watch. His new role is specifically designed to "strengthen production practices and execution." Given his experience as Production Director on Valhalla and Origins, he’s uniquely qualified to handle the logistical nightmare of coordinating the thousands of developers that contribute to a modern AC title.

The Bottom Line

We believe this reorganization is the most bullish move Ubisoft has made with Assassin’s Creed in years. By pulling the talent responsible for Black Flag and Origins back into a centralized leadership hub at Vantage Studios, they are clearly aiming for a "quality over quantity" approach—or at the very least, a more curated quantity. With the transition finishing up in the coming weeks, the industry is waiting to see if this new "Vantage" point will finally give us the Assassin's Creed 1 remake or the fresh start the community has been clamoring for.