Ubisoft Montreal loses long-time designer Maxime Couture after two decades, with the Prince of Persia and Assassin's Creed veteran joining a smaller studio as Ubisoft faces workplace controversies.
Maxime Couture, a cornerstone designer behind Ubisoft's flagship franchises for over two decades, has exited the Montreal studio. In a LinkedIn announcement, Couture confirmed February 3, 2026, as his final day, stating he needed change and would pivot to a smaller studio alongside other industry veterans. While he hasn't publicly named his next venture, his departure marks a significant loss for Ubisoft's creative leadership.
Couture's 21-year tenure traces the evolution of Ubisoft's open-world design philosophy. His career began on the PlayStation 2-era Prince of Persia trilogy—The Sands of Time, Warrior Within, and The Two Thrones—foundational titles that pioneered the environmental traversal mechanics later refined in Assassin's Creed. He joined the inaugural Assassin's Creed team in 2005 as a senior designer, contributing to the series' transformation into a blockbuster open-world franchise across multiple installments. Beyond Assassin's Creed, Couture's design influence extended to Far Cry 4 and Watch Dogs. Most recently, he served as world-level design director for the upcoming supernatural-themed Assassin's Creed Codename Hexe, positioning him at the forefront of the franchise's next evolution.
This departure gains context against Ubisoft's ongoing organizational challenges. Couture's exit follows recent controversies including mandatory return-to-office enforcement that resulted in employee dismissals after public criticism of the policy. Simultaneously, former Assassin's Creed executive producer Marc-Alexis Côté is suing Ubisoft for constructive dismissal, alleging diminished authority during corporate restructuring. These incidents compound existing industry concerns about talent retention at major studios.
For Assassin's Creed devotees, Couture's departure represents more than a single developer transition. His institutional knowledge spanned Prince of Persia's platforming innovations through Assassin's Creed's shift toward RPG mechanics, embodying continuity across Ubisoft's defining action-adventure DNA. The timing proves particularly notable for Codename Hexe, which loses its world design director mid-development following rumors of production hurdles.
Industry analysts note that veteran exits like Couture's often signal deeper cultural or directional shifts within studios. With Ubisoft publicly committing to fewer annualized franchise releases in favor of ambitious, longer-development projects, retaining experienced designers becomes increasingly critical. Couture's move to a smaller studio aligns with a broader industry trend of AAA veterans seeking creative autonomy in mid-sized teams—a pattern observed at studios like Archetype Entertainment (founded by ex-BioWare leads) and Lightbulb Games (formed by former Rocksteady developers).
As Ubisoft navigates this leadership transition, all eyes turn to Codename Hexe's development trajectory and whether Couture's departure impacts its rumored 2027 release window. For prospective players invested in Ubisoft's flagship franchises, this personnel shift warrants attention as an indicator of evolving design priorities across upcoming projects.
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