Who Is Eric Baptizat? Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Director Returns to Ubisoft

Ubisoft has appointed industry veteran Eric Baptizat as the new overarching Game Director for the entire Assassin’s Creed franchise. Baptizat, who previously served as lead designer on Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and directed Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, rejoins Ubisoft after a five-year stint at EA Motive. In his new executive role, he will oversee creative direction across the brand as Ubisoft prepares its next major flagship entry, Assassin’s Creed Hexe, slated for release in 2027 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Who Is Eric Baptizat and What Is His History With Ubisoft?

Eric Baptizat is a distinguished game director and designer who spent 16 years at Ubisoft building many of the publisher’s most successful releases. Joining the company in 2005, Baptizat quickly established himself as a central figure in shaping the gameplay design of the Assassin’s Creed universe.

His track record across the series includes several defining contributions:

• Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (2013): Served as lead game designer, crafting the acclaimed naval combat and seamless open-world exploration.
• Assassin’s Creed Unity (2014): Acted as senior game designer, refining parkour movement and dense urban stealth mechanics.
• Assassin’s Creed Origins (2017): Led game design operations during the franchise’s transition into an action RPG format.
• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (2020): Directed the massive Viking epic, which became one of the highest-grossing entries in Ubisoft history.

Why Did Eric Baptizat Leave Ubisoft and What Games Did He Direct at EA?

In 2021, Baptizat departed Ubisoft to join EA Motive Studio. During his five years away, he expanded his creative portfolio by directing two major AAA projects:

• Dead Space Remake (2023): Baptizat served as game director for the critically acclaimed survival horror remake, winning widespread praise for modernizing atmosphere and combat mechanics.
• Battlefield 6: He held the role of game design director, helping shape large-scale multiplayer combat systems.

His return to Ubisoft brings senior leadership expertise back to the publisher during an important transitional period.

How Was Eric Baptizat’s Return Announced?

The news of Baptizat’s return was officially confirmed by Jean Guesdon, Head of Content for Assassin’s Creed, in a public post on LinkedIn. Guesdon himself returned to Ubisoft in early 2026 after a temporary departure, signaling a broader effort by Ubisoft to reassemble the senior creative talent responsible for the series’ peak commercial era.

In his statement, Guesdon praised Baptizat’s technical rigor and collaborative vision:

“Very happy to share some exciting news! After an incredible career, including 16 years at Ubisoft and then leading the acclaimed Dead Space remake at EA Motive, Eric Baptizat is returning to the Assassin’s Creed family as our new Game Director. Eric needs no introduction in this universe. His 16 years at Ubisoft, fundamental contributions to Black Flag, Origins, and Valhalla as Game Director, his passion for the art of gameplay, and his deep connection to this franchise speak for themselves. Seeing someone with his experience, his rigor, and his collaborative spirit take on this role fills me with confidence and a lot of excitement for what’s to come for the brand. Welcome back, Eric.”

What Is the Future of the Assassin’s Creed Franchise?

Baptizat takes the reins following a major internal restructuring at Ubisoft that saw early development adjustments across several internal teams. With classic releases like Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced keeping fans engaged across storefronts like the Steam Store, PlayStation Store, and Microsoft Xbox Store, attention now turns toward future mainline installments.

The primary project on the horizon is Assassin’s Creed Hexe, an upcoming dark, atmospheric entry currently slated for a 2027 release window. Industry analysts expect Baptizat’s broad background in both open-world RPG design and survival horror pacing to heavily influence the future direction of the franchise. Players can browse available titles and catch upcoming DLC releases directly via the Ubisoft Store.