Julian Gerighty, The Division franchise executive producer, just walked away from Ubisoft after 27 years. The bombshell announcement hit January 16, 2026 – exactly one week after Gerighty called Division 3 ‘shaping up to be a monster’ during New Game+ Showcase. He’s heading to EA’s Battlefield Studios, leaving Massive Entertainment scrambling amid recent layoffs.
Timeline of the Shocking Exit
January 9: Gerighty hypes Division 3 on livestream. January 13: Ubisoft announces 55 layoffs at Massive/Stockholm. January 16: Gerighty announces departure. The velocity stunned fans expecting leadership stability.
Massive Entertainment’s statement: “Our teams who built this world with Julian are still here.” Leadership transition names Yannick Banchereau and Mathias Karlson as creative directors for Division 2/3, Magnus Jansen for Survivors extraction mode.
Gerighty’s Division Legacy
- Creative director: The Division (2016), Division 2 (2019)
- Co-director: Star Wars Outlaws (2024 commercial disappointment)
- Executive producer: Entire Division franchise (2023 promotion)
- Engineered Snowdrop engine powering all Division titles
October 2025 rumors of departure swiftly denied by Massive. Reality proved otherwise.
Battlefield Studios Beckons
Gerighty joins DICE amid Battlefield turmoil. Franchise GM Vince Zampella died December 2025 car accident. Battlefield 2042 recovery ongoing. EA seeks live service expertise as Apex Legends faces competition.
Exact DICE role undisclosed. Gerighty’s Division live service mastery (15M+ players peak) positions him for Battlefield revival leadership or extraction shooter oversight.
Division Franchise Future
| Project | Status | Lead |
|---|---|---|
| Division 2 | Live service | Yannick Banchereau |
| Division 2: Survivors | Extraction mode | Magnus Jansen |
| Division Resurgence | Mobile | TBD |
| Division 3 | Production | Mathias Karlson |
Ubisoft emphasizes ‘unchanged commitment’ across all projects. Realism Mode launches Division 2 March 2026. Definitive Edition marketing spotted Japan.
Ubisoft’s Broader Context
Gerighty exit compounds Massive challenges:
– Star Wars Outlaws underperformed despite $200M+ budget
– Avatar support recently concluded
– Snowdrop engine refocus post-multi-project era
– Multiple 2026 layoff waves
Restructuring prioritizes Division franchise over single-player experiments.
Community Reactions Split
r/Games thread (8K upvotes) debates impact:
- ‘Perfect storm timing post-layoffs’
- ‘Division 3 already doomed’
- ‘Battlefield revival dream team’
- ‘Teams stay, vision leaves’
FAQs
Who replaces Gerighty?
Division 2: Yannick Banchereau. Division 3: Mathias Karlson. Survivors: Magnus Jansen. Resurgence leadership TBD.
Division 3 still happening?
Yes. Ubisoft emphasizes ‘teams remain, commitment unchanged.’
Why now, after Division 3 hype?
Battlefield Studios vacancy post-Zampella death. 27-year Ubisoft tenure timing suggests planned exit.
Battlefield role confirmed?
Not detailed. Live service expertise positions him for franchise revival leadership.
Recent Massive layoffs impact?
55 roles cut January 13 across Massive/Stockholm. Post-Outlaws/Avatar support restructuring.
Gerighty’s October rumors?
Massive denied swiftly. Reality confirmed January 2026.
Conclusion
Julian Gerighty’s Division-to-Battlefield leap rocks Ubisoft amid layoffs, Outlaws fallout. Leadership transition tests franchise resilience as Division 3 production continues under new direction. Battlefield gains proven live service architect while Massive proves team endurance over individual vision. Multiplayer gaming’s power players shuffle continues.