Eric Baptizat has returned to Ubisoft as the game director for the Assassin's Creed brand, the company announced via LinkedIn. The veteran, who departed the publisher in 2021, will now oversee development of upcoming titles across the franchise.
Baptizat spent 16 years at Ubisoft from 2005 to 2021, serving as lead designer on Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and director on Assassin's Creed Origins and Valhalla. After leaving, he worked at EA's Motive Studio, where he directed the Dead Space remake and served as design director for Battlefield 6.
According to Jean Guesdon, head of content for the Assassin's Creed series, the return underscores Ubisoft's effort to stabilize the franchise. "His passion for gameplay craft and his deep connection to this franchise speak for themselves," Guesdon stated in the announcement. The move comes as part of a broader Ubisoft restructuring, with the series now operating under the Tencent-backed Vantage Studios umbrella.
Baptizat's return marks another leadership shift for one of Ubisoft's most valuable intellectual properties, as the publisher looks to turn around recent commercial challenges facing the series.
