adminClint Hocking leaves Ubisoft following a company restructure, ending his role as creative director on Assassin’s Creed Codename Hexe. The departure is a significant change for the upcoming game, but Ubisoft says development is continuing with an experienced team and has named an interim creative director.
Clint Hocking leaves Ubisoft after leading Codename Hexe
Hocking had been guiding the development of Codename Hexe, an unannounced Assassin’s Creed project first revealed in 2022. The news of his departure was shared internally by the franchise’s new leadership this week.
Ubisoft thanked Hocking for his vision, creative contributions and dedication over the years, and wished him well in his next chapter. The company did not announce what he plans to do next.
For players following the project, the key point is that Ubisoft has not said development is stopping. The company says the game remains in progress, although details such as its release date and gameplay have not been provided in the information available.
Who is taking over as creative director?
Jean Guesdon is acting as creative director on Codename Hexe. He was recently appointed Head of Content for the Assassin’s Creed brand, placing him in a leadership role across the franchise as well as on this project.
Ubisoft says Codename Hexe is being developed by a seasoned team and is intended to offer something distinctive within the series. For now, the change in creative leadership is the main confirmed development update; no new launch timing or further production details were announced.
Hocking’s career at Ubisoft
Hocking built a long career in game development, becoming widely known as creative director of Far Cry 2. His other work at Ubisoft included Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory and Watch Dogs Legion. He also held roles at Valve and LucasArts on projects that were not announced.
His experience across several major franchises makes his exit notable, but his departure alone does not confirm any change to Codename Hexe’s planned direction. Ubisoft has described the project as continuing under its current team.
Another leadership change for Assassin’s Creed
Hocking is the second high-profile departure connected to the project. Former franchise lead Marc-Alexis Côté left Ubisoft in October and sued the company in January, alleging constructive dismissal after the Assassin’s Creed brand moved to Vantage Studios, a new Tencent-backed subsidiary. The allegation is Côté’s; the reported details do not establish a legal outcome.
These departures come during a prolonged Ubisoft restructuring that has included studio closures around the world. For readers, it is useful to distinguish those company-wide changes from confirmed updates about the game itself: Ubisoft’s stated position is that Codename Hexe remains in development.
What is known about Assassin’s Creed Codename Hexe?
When Codename Hexe was announced in 2022, it was described as a different experience from previous Assassin’s Creed entries, with a focus on horror elements. That description offers a broad sense of its intended tone, but Ubisoft has not shared enough detail to establish how those elements will work in the finished game.
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has said the company is developing several Assassin’s Creed titles, alongside multiple Far Cry games. Until more information is released, players should treat the horror focus as an announced direction rather than a complete description of the game.
What Clint Hocking’s departure means for Codename Hexe
Clint Hocking leaves Ubisoft at a time of wider change for the company and the Assassin’s Creed brand. The confirmed update is that Jean Guesdon is acting as creative director and Ubisoft says development continues with an experienced team. Further news about the game’s features, release plans or long-term leadership will be needed to understand how the transition affects Codename Hexe.
