Assassin's Creed Hexe drops magic for gritty realism — and loses another director
Assassin's Creed Hexe is getting a significant creative overhaul. New franchise head Jean Guesdon has removed every magical and fantasy element from the game, pivoting it toward grounded historical realism — and the studio has now seen two major directors exit within two months.
The pivot
When Ubisoft first teased Hexe back in 2022, it was framed as one of the most unusual entries in the series: a dark, supernatural thriller set during the Holy Roman Empire's 16th-century witch trials, with protagonist Elsa wielding otherworldly abilities. Insider Tom Henderson had reported the game would lean heavily into fantasy, drawing comparisons to the mythological arc of Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla.
That vision is gone. Insider xj0nathan confirmed via Twisted Voxel that Guesdon — who took over as franchise lead in February 2026 — ordered all supernatural content cut. That includes the much-discussed cat-possession mechanic, which had generated both excitement and skepticism online. The new direction pushes Hexe toward what Ubisoft describes as a darker, more narrative-driven experience, where historical immersion does the heavy lifting.
Si vous voulez une petite info sur les coulisses du jeu (qui pourrait être lié à ce départ), c'est que depuis que Jean Guesdon a été mis à la tête de la franchise Assassin's Creed en février, il a décidé de virer tout ce qui était "magique" dans Hexe. Par exemple, on devait… https://t.co/s9BcALY8aB
— j0nathan (@xj0nathan) April 24, 2026
Guesdon knows this territory. As creative director on Black Flag and Origins, he built two of the franchise's most historically grounded entries. Fans of those games may find the shift reassuring; those hoping for something closer to Valhalla's supernatural excess will be disappointed. Reaction on Reddit is split down the middle, with some praising the return to realism and others mourning the loss of the paranormal angle.
Leadership turbulence
The creative pivot comes with real turbulence behind the scenes. Clint Hocking, who had been creative director on Hexe, left the project in late February 2026. Benoit Richer, who stepped into the game director role after Hocking's exit, also departed in April. Two senior directors gone within weeks of each other is an unusual level of churn for a flagship title, and it raises fair questions about the project's stability heading into what is widely expected to be a 2027 release window.
Ubisoft Montreal is developing the game, and no official release date or platform list has been confirmed. Before Hexe arrives, the studio has Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced scheduled for July 9 — a remaster that should keep the franchise visible while Hexe continues its quieter development. Whether the magic-free version of Hexe is the better game remains to be seen, but Guesdon's track record suggests the historical bones at least will be solid.
