Fans Seem Very Hopeful to New Leadership for Vantage Studios as Assassin’s Creed Head Exits
Ubisoft has confirmed a new leadership team for Vantage Studios, a Tencent-backed division that will manage its biggest game franchises — Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six. The update also includes the exit of long-time Assassin’s Creed leader Marc-Alexis Côté. As the announcement came, discussion started all over the internet, and all the fans seemed very excited and hopeful about a new beginning.
Vantage Studios will be led by co-CEOs Christophe Derennes and Charlie Guillemot. The studio is supported by a €1.16 billion investment from Tencent, which owns a 26% minority stake in the new unit. Ubisoft says this is the first of five “Creative Houses” it plans to set up. The goal is to give teams more control while focusing on its most successful brands.
We have an update on the future of Assassin’s Creed.
Today we’re introducing new members of the leadership team that will steer the franchise's ambitious new chapter.
– Martin Schelling – Head of AC Brand
– Jean Guesdon – Head of Content
– François De Billy – Head of… pic.twitter.com/1AJXxOhypu— Assassin's Creed (@assassinscreed) February 23, 2026
The appointment of Charlie Guillemot, son of Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, has led to criticism from some employees and fans who questioned the decision. Yves Guillemot defended the move, saying the company has strong family roots and that both co-CEOs bring different strengths that will help the business.
At the same time, Marc-Alexis Côté decided not to join Vantage Studios. According to IGN, he turned down a leadership role due to differences in expectations and priorities. Côté worked at Ubisoft for about 20 years and played a key role in shaping the modern Assassin’s Creed series, from Brotherhood to Odyssey. Ubisoft said it was disappointed by his decision but remains confident in its teams.
Ubisoft also confirmed that several Assassin’s Creed projects are still in development. Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to release in February 2025. Other projects include Codename Hexe, described as a darker single-player game, Assassin’s Creed Invictus, which focuses on multiplayer, and a reported remake of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag.
Many fans on X (Twitter) reacted in a positive way to the announcement. One user said that even though they don’t know the new leaders, the fact that writers from Black Flag and Valhalla are involved makes them believe the next Assassin’s Creed game could be amazing.This shows that fans still trust the people who worked on past popular games.
Another user commented it a new era and said the series is about to improve a lot, showing excitement about the future.
A third user said they hope this is the first step toward a better future for the franchise.
On the Reddit thread r/assassinscreed, most fans reacted in a calm and positive way. One user joked about asking the new leaders to add Naoe’s outfit to the game, but then said they still think the series needs someone to guide the overall story so it stays connected across games. This shows that some fans are hopeful but also want better story planning.
Another user said the appointments are great because the leaders worked on some of the best games in the series.
A third person said they are excited to see what this team will do next and are happy that experienced Assassin’s Creed developers are getting these roles.
This change comes during a difficult time for Ubisoft. The company has announced a €500 million cost-cutting plan and has canceled several games, including the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake. It has also faced strikes from more than 1,000 employees over return-to-office rules and pay concerns.
Ubisoft says the new Creative House model is meant to improve stability and help turn its biggest franchises into long-term, high-earning brands. For now, players are watching closely to see how these leadership changes affect future Assassin’s Creed games.
