Hexe's future shrouded in doubt: key developers exit, 'magical' elements eliminated

Assassin’s Creed’s next mainline title, Hexe, is facing a turbulent future following a series of unsettling departures and a reported shift in creative direction. Ubisoft veteran Jean Guesdon’s ascension to Head of Content, coupled with the exits of both creative director Clint Hocking and game director Benoit Richer, has thrown the project into disarray.

A shifting landscape at ubisoft

Reliable insider j0nathan has dropped a bombshell, claiming that Guesdon’s recent promotion has triggered a fundamental reevaluation of Hexe. Specifically, he alleges a deliberate dismantling of the game’s previously planned ‘magical’ elements. ‘For example, we were supposed to control a cat, well, ultimately that’s been canceled,’ j0nathan stated, hinting at a significant departure from the anticipated tone and mechanics.

From dragon to spectral shadows

Hexe, initially slated to explore the 17th-century witch trials in central Europe, had leaned towards incorporating supernatural abilities – a departure from the series’ more consistently grounded approach. The DNA-based memory access and special powers, a hallmark of the Assassin’s Creed universe, have fluctuated in prominence over the franchise’s lifespan, from the demigod transformation in Odyssey to the more restrained focus of Mirage. The potential for incorporating witchcraft-inspired powers, likely explained through artefacts, bloodline connections, or simply handwaved abilities, seemed a natural fit for the setting.

A remake in the shadows?

Adding another layer of complexity, rumors persist of a potential Assassin’s Creed 1 remake – or at least, a project undertaken a couple of years ago. While Ubisoft has previously confirmed plans for multiple remakes, including Black Flag, the lack of recent updates suggests the project may have been shelved. A revival of the original Assassin’s Creed, arguably the most dated entry in the series, despite its backwards compatibility on modern consoles, would be a logical move, potentially expanding its world and integrating elements from later installments. The prospect of a reimagined AC1, perhaps combining its open areas into a larger, more fluid world, is undeniably intriguing – a chance to finally realize the potential that was initially locked away by the limitations of its time.

A delayed arrival

Despite the turmoil, Hexe remains slated for release in 2027, following the July 9th launch of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. It’s a project now operating under a new, and considerably more uncertain, strategic vision. The continued internal restructuring within Ubisoft suggests a period of significant adaptation - and a considerable risk that Hexe’s core identity will be fundamentally altered before it ever reaches the player.