The ink on Assassin’s Creed Shadows is barely dry, but Ubisoft Quebec is already gearing up for the next adventure in the long-running franchise. Recent job postings reveal the studio is actively recruiting for key positions on a brand new Assassin’s Creed project, signaling that development has officially kicked off.
Two specific roles stand out in the hiring push – an Animation Director and a Character Technical Director. Both positions list Assassin’s Creed explicitly in their titles, leaving little room for speculation about what game they’ll be working on. This early hiring phase typically indicates a project is in the conceptual stages, with the studio building its core creative team before ramping up full production.
What the Job Listings Tell Us
The Animation Director position offers some insight into what Ubisoft Quebec might be planning. According to the official job description, the role involves defining how characters, environments, and objects move within the game world. The successful candidate will shape the overall animation vision, working closely with rigging teams, technical directors, and motion capture performers to establish the game’s visual identity.
What’s particularly interesting is the emphasis on creating a cohesive and believable world. The listing mentions building movement systems that support gameplay, convey narrative, build emotional connections, and deliver an immersive experience. This suggests Ubisoft Quebec wants to push animation quality even further than what we’ve seen in Shadows, which already featured impressive character movement and environmental interactions.
Juggling Multiple Projects
Starting work on a new game while the previous one is still fresh might seem unusual, but it’s actually standard practice in AAA game development. Large studios like Ubisoft Quebec typically have multiple projects running simultaneously at different stages of production. While one team continues supporting Shadows with DLC, updates, and bug fixes, another can begin pre-production on the next title.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows launched earlier this year to decent reception, and Ubisoft has committed to a robust post-launch roadmap. The game continues receiving free story drops, difficulty options, parkour updates, and quality-of-life improvements throughout 2025. The Claws of Awaji expansion is still rolling out to players, adding new regions, weapons, and over 10 hours of additional content. Meanwhile, the team just released updates including level cap increases to 100, hideout upgrades, and the ability to fast-forward time.
What Could Come Next
While Ubisoft hasn’t officially announced what setting or time period the next Quebec-developed Assassin’s Creed will explore, the franchise has a packed pipeline. Assassin’s Creed Hexe, the next major flagship entry set during the witch trials in the Holy Roman Empire, is currently in development at Ubisoft Montreal. AC Invictus, a multiplayer-focused experience, is also in the works.
This new project from Ubisoft Quebec likely won’t see the light of day until 2027 at the earliest, given typical development timelines for open-world action games of this scale. The fact that they’re hiring directors now suggests they’re in the early conceptual phase, working out the core vision, setting, and gameplay mechanics before building out the full team.
Industry Context Matters
The hiring push comes during a turbulent period for Ubisoft. The company has faced criticism over Shadows’ delayed launch, leadership changes within the Assassin’s Creed franchise, and ongoing restructuring efforts. Former franchise executive producer Marc-Alexis Côté recently revealed on LinkedIn that he was pushed out of his role, with Ubisoft transferring franchise leadership to someone closer to the company’s new organizational structure in Paris.
Job listings have also appeared for a new head of the Assassin’s Creed franchise located in Paris, fueling speculation about potential studio consolidations and layoffs at satellite locations like Quebec and Montreal. Despite this uncertainty, Ubisoft Quebec appears to be moving forward with its plans, continuing to invest in the franchise that helped put the studio on the map.
Quebec’s Assassin’s Creed Legacy
Ubisoft Quebec has proven itself as a capable steward of the franchise. The studio previously developed Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, which took players to ancient Greece and introduced RPG elements that fundamentally changed the series direction. Odyssey was a commercial and critical success, showing that Quebec could handle the franchise’s biggest projects.
Shadows represents the studio’s second mainline Assassin’s Creed title, taking players to feudal Japan with dual protagonists Naoe and Yasuke. The game introduced refined parkour mechanics, dual protagonist gameplay with distinct playstyles, and a visually stunning recreation of historical Japan. While reception has been mixed on some aspects, the technical craftsmanship and attention to environmental detail earned praise from players and critics.
What This Means for Fans
For Assassin’s Creed fans, this news is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it confirms the franchise isn’t slowing down despite recent challenges. Ubisoft clearly sees long-term value in continuing the series with multiple studios working on different projects. On the other hand, some players worry about franchise fatigue, with new entries arriving before previous ones have time to breathe.
The good news is that with multiple teams working independently, each game can have longer development cycles while maintaining a steady release cadence for the franchise overall. If Quebec is just starting pre-production now, this new game won’t interfere with Hexe or other projects further along in development. Fans won’t be asked to choose between competing releases, but rather enjoy a pipeline of experiences spread out over several years.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the next Ubisoft Quebec Assassin’s Creed game release?
Based on typical AAA development timelines, a 2027 or 2028 release seems most likely. The studio is currently in the early hiring phase, bringing on directors to establish the creative vision. Full production typically takes 3-4 years after pre-production begins, and Ubisoft will want to avoid crowding other AC releases like Hexe.
What will the new Assassin’s Creed game be about?
Ubisoft hasn’t revealed any details about the setting, time period, or story. The job listings only confirm it’s an Assassin’s Creed project in development at Ubisoft Quebec. Speculation about settings ranges from ancient Rome to medieval Europe, but nothing has been officially confirmed or even leaked at this stage.
Does this mean Assassin’s Creed Shadows is being abandoned?
Not at all. Different teams handle post-launch support versus new game development. Shadows continues receiving regular updates, free story content, and the Claws of Awaji expansion. Ubisoft has committed to supporting the game throughout 2025 with new features, difficulty settings, and quality-of-life improvements while a separate team begins work on the next project.
Will this be another RPG-style Assassin’s Creed?
It’s too early to know. The Animation Director job listing emphasizes movement systems that support gameplay, convey narrative, and create immersive experiences, but doesn’t specify whether the game will follow the RPG format of recent entries or potentially return to more traditional stealth-focused gameplay. That direction will likely be determined during pre-production.
Is Ubisoft Quebec the main Assassin’s Creed studio now?
No single studio “owns” the franchise. Ubisoft Montreal remains heavily involved with multiple AC projects including Hexe and Invictus. Singapore is handling the Black Flag remake. Quebec has proven itself capable of leading mainline entries, but the franchise operates as a collaborative effort across multiple Ubisoft studios worldwide.
Could this be Assassin’s Creed Hexe?
No, Hexe is being developed by Ubisoft Montreal, not Quebec. Hexe is the next major flagship entry set during the witch trials and is much further along in development than this newly announced Quebec project. The two games are separate titles with different teams, settings, and release windows.
Why announce a new game through job listings instead of properly?
Ubisoft hasn’t officially announced this project. Job listings simply reveal that development has started, which is common for games in early pre-production. Publishers typically don’t formally announce games until they have substantial gameplay footage and a clearer release window, usually 12-18 months before launch. Expect a proper reveal sometime in 2026 or 2027.
Looking Ahead
The Assassin’s Creed franchise shows no signs of slowing down. With multiple studios working on different entries, Ubisoft is positioning the series for long-term sustainability rather than rushing annual releases. This approach gives each game more development time while ensuring fans have regular new experiences to look forward to. Whether this strategy pays off depends on execution, but at least for now, the hidden blade remains unsheathed and ready for new adventures across history.