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Ubisoft announces new Assassin's Creed leadership team
Ubisoft has announced a new leadership team for its Assassin's Creed franchise within its Vantage Studios creative house. Martin Schelling, Jean Guesdon, and François de Billy will lead the brand strategy, creative direction, and production excellence, respectively. This announcement comes as part of a larger company restructuring that includes partnerships and the cancellation of some games.
Ubisoft announce a trio of Assassin's Creed veterans will lead the series' "next era"
Ubisoft has appointed three veteran Assassin's Creed developers—Martin Schelling, Jean Guesdon, and François de Billy—to lead the franchise into its next era under the newly formed Vantage Studios. Schelling will head the brand, Guesdon will lead content, and de Billy will focus on production excellence, aiming to shape the series' long-term vision and creative direction.
Ubisoft picks series veterans for new Assassin's Creed leadership team
Ubisoft's subsidiary Vantage Studios has appointed Martin Schelling as Head of Assassin's Creed Brand, Jean Guesdon as Head of Content, and François de Billy as Head of Production Excellence. These series veterans will lead the brand's strategy, creative direction, and production practices.
Tencent reportedly closes TiMi Montréal studio
Tencent subsidiary TiMi Studio Group has reportedly closed its Montréal studio, TiMi Montréal, which was founded in 2021 and led by former Assassin's Creed creative director Ashraf Ismail. The studio had not released any games since its inception. This follows the earlier closure of TiMi's Los Angeles-based studio, Team Kajiu, in 2023.
Report: Tencent quietly shutters Timi Montreal
Tencent has reportedly closed its Montreal-based game development studio, Timi Montreal, approximately five years after its establishment. The studio was tasked with creating an original AAA, service-driven open-world game for multiple platforms. This closure follows other recent restructuring and job cuts within Tencent's global gaming divisions.
Ubisoft CEO touts “disciplined workforce management” while defending giving his son the keys to Assassin's Creed
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot confirmed new Assassin's Creed and Far Cry games are in development, alongside original projects, as part of a company-wide cost reduction and restructuring plan. The article highlights controversy surrounding the appointment of his son, Charlie Guillemot, as co-CEO of Vantage Studios, which will manage major franchises, alongside Christophe Derennes.
Tencent reportedly shutter open world game studio which had drafted in former Assassin’s Creed director
Tencent has reportedly shut down its TiMi Montreal studio, which was established in 2021 with the aim of developing multi-platform open-world games. Despite five years of operation and hiring former Assassin's Creed creative director Ashraf Ismail, the studio did not release any titles. This closure aligns with a broader trend of Chinese gaming giants scaling back Western expansion efforts.
Tencent shutters TiMi Montreal
Tencent has closed its studio TiMi Montréal, which was led by former Assassin's Creed creative director Ashraf Ismail. The five-year-old studio was focused on AAA open-world multi-platform games and had inherited titles from Jade Studio, including Pokémon Unite and Call of Duty: Mobile. Sources indicated that the shutdown was imminent.
Ubisoft confirms a lot of new Far Cry and Assassin's Creed games are in development
Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot confirmed that two new Far Cry games and multiple Assassin's Creed titles are in development. The company is also restructuring into five creative houses, including a subsidiary with Tencent called Vantage Studios. Details on specific Far Cry projects and potential cancellations within the Assassin's Creed brand were also discussed.
Ubisoft cut staff at Splinter Cell devs Ubisoft Toronto, as part of their push to save €200 million
Ubisoft Toronto, the studio developing the Splinter Cell remake, has laid off approximately 40 employees, representing 8% of its staff. This move is part of Ubisoft's broader initiative to cut costs by €200 million over the next two years, which has also involved layoffs in Paris and the cancellation of six games.
Godot veteran laments 'AI slop,' Highguard's mystery investor, and a big doc for Big Hops - Patch Notes #41
This week's gaming news highlights concerns over generative AI's impact on hardware availability and the influx of low-quality submissions to open-source projects like Godot. Unity claims its AI can now generate full casual games from prompts, while a documentary explores the six-year development of the indie platformer Big Hops. Other news includes Hasbro shutting down its Atomic Arcade studio, Tencent's secret funding of Highguard, a banned Call of Duty ad, ByteDance potentially selling Moonton, and Valve warning of Steam Deck OLED stock issues due to RAM shortages.
Ubisoft Toronto lays off 40 employees as part of major restructuring
Ubisoft Toronto has laid off 40 employees as part of a larger restructuring and cost-saving plan announced by the company. A Ubisoft spokesperson confirmed the news, stating that the decision was difficult and that support would be provided to affected employees. Development on the Splinter Cell remake is reportedly ongoing.
Still Wakes The Deep dev The Chinese Room signs with Lyrical Publishing for new title
BAFTA-winning studio The Chinese Room has partnered with new publisher Lyrical Games for its first new intellectual property since separating from Sumo Group. Lyrical Games will provide full financing and strategic support while ensuring the studio retains IP ownership. This collaboration marks a significant step for The Chinese Room, known for titles like Still Wakes the Deep and Everybody's Gone to the Rapture.
Former developers of one of 2024's best Soulslikes are stuck in a purgatory of unpaid salaries
Former employees of Jyamma Games, the developer behind the 2024 action-RPG Enotria: The Last Song, have reported significant delays in receiving their salaries, with some payments outstanding since March 2025. CEO Giacomo Greco cited cashflow issues stemming from delayed revenue collection and changes in project direction, including a shift from an Enotria sequel to a trading card game adaptation of The Divine Comedy, and later an action-RPG. Despite assurances of restructuring and ongoing negotiations for investment and potential publishing deals, some former staff remain unpaid.
Report: Tencent was Highguard's secret financial backer
A report indicates that Tencent, through its subsidiary TiMi Studio Group, was the primary financial backer for Wildlight Entertainment's hero shooter, Highguard. Neither company has officially confirmed the report, though Wildlight CEO Dusty Welch has previously declined to discuss funding sources. Highguard launched as a free-to-play title in January 2026 but reportedly failed to meet internal expectations, leading to significant layoffs shortly after its release.
Tencent's TiMi Studio Group reportedly funded Highguard dev Wildlight Entertainment
Tencent subsidiary TiMi Studio Group reportedly served as the lead financial backer for Wildlight Entertainment, the developer of Highguard. Wildlight, formed in 2023 by former Respawn Entertainment developers, has not publicly commented on the funding details. This news comes after Wildlight recently laid off an unspecified number of employees.
Why Hiro is bullish on UK and EU game dev funding after helping The Chinese Room and Bulkhead go independent
Hiro Capital, through its new advisory division, is bullish on the UK and EU game development funding landscape, seeing a rise in independent studios formed by experienced teams. The firm has already assisted The Chinese Room and Bulkhead Interactive in regaining independence from larger corporations. Factors like regulatory limitations on US investment for Asian companies and the availability of talent exiting larger firms contribute to Europe's attractiveness for game dev investment.
ByteDance reportedly in "advanced talks" to sell Mobile Legends dev Moonton Technology to Savvy Games for over $6bn
ByteDance is reportedly in advanced negotiations to sell its mobile game developer Moonton Technology, known for Mobile Legends, to Savvy Games Group for over $6 billion. The deal, which could close this quarter, would signify ByteDance's significant withdrawal from the online gaming sector. Savvy Games Group, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, has existing investments in several major gaming companies.
Ubisoft Q3 net bookings rise 12% to €338m, primarily driven by Assassin's Creed franchise
Ubisoft reported a 12% year-on-year increase in Q3 net bookings to €338 million, exceeding its guidance, largely driven by the Assassin's Creed franchise and strong back-catalogue sales. The company also announced restructuring plans, including workforce reductions, and completed Tencent's investment in its Vantage Studios.
10 Chambers co-founder Hjalmar Vikström leaves after 10 years
Hjalmar Vikström, co-founder and chief development officer of 10 Chambers, has departed the studio after nearly 11 years. Vikström, who co-created the cooperative first-person shooter GTFO, cited the toll the industry has taken and expressed a desire to focus on health and family by developing smaller indie games. Tencent holds a major stake in 10 Chambers.
