Éric Baptizat, the former creative director of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, has returned to Ubisoft.

On the 5th, Jean Guesdon, Ubisoft's Head of Content for the series, announced Baptizat's return via LinkedIn.

After serving as creative director for Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Baptizat left Ubisoft—where he had spent 16 years—to join EA Motive Studio. During his time there, he built a successful career, serving as game director for the critically acclaimed Dead Space remake and as one of the game design directors for Battlefield 6.

His sudden return to Ubisoft has caught many by surprise, and the reasons for his departure from EA Motive Studio remain undisclosed. Jean Guesdon stated, "Éric needs no introduction in this industry. During his 16 years at Ubisoft, he played a pivotal role as game director for Black Flag, Origins, and Valhalla. His passion for gameplay and deep affection for the franchise are evident in his career path. I am thrilled to have someone with his expertise, meticulousness, and collaborative spirit in this role, and I am truly excited to see how this brand evolves. Welcome back, Éric. We are genuinely happy to have you with us."

While it has not been officially confirmed which project in the Assassin's Creed series he will join, his appointment as the new director for Assassin's Creed Hexe seems highly likely, especially given the recent turnover in the project's leadership. This speculation is further supported by the fact that Benoît Richer, the most recent main director for Assassin's Creed Hexe, departed Ubisoft this past April.

Meanwhile, specific details regarding the setting, atmosphere, and gameplay of Assassin's Creed Hexe remain under wraps. All eyes are now on how the return of Baptizat—who led the development of titles widely considered the golden era of the series, from Black Flag to Origins and Valhalla—will impact the project and whether he can inject new vitality into its development.