Amazon Game Studios boss Christoph Hartmann left the company earlier this year amidst its move away from big-budget game development and embrace of AI-powered slop. There was no indication at the time as to what he’d get up to next (in fact, I don’t think his departure was ever publicly confirmed by Amazon), but now we know: He’s signed up with Ubisoft.
Hartmann, who prior to joining Amazon had a long run at Take-Two including 14 years as president of its 2K Games publishing label, will head up Ubisoft’s still-needs-a-proper-name Creative House 2, one of five “creative houses” that emerged from the company’s recent restructuring.
That will put him in charge of Tom Clancy franchises The Division, Ghost Recon, and Splinter Cell—although the premier Tom Clancy game, Rainbow Six Siege, will remain with Vantage Studios, formerly known as Creative House One—as well as the March of Giants MOBA Ubisoft acquired from Amazon in 2025.
“Christoph is exactly the kind of leader we needed for Creative House 2—a passionate gamer with a proven ability to bring out the best in creative teams and build franchises that last,” Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said.
“His experience across development and publishing as well as his management style give him a rare understanding of what it takes to make great games. I am confident Christoph will elevate our teams and brands to new heights and deepen their connection with the dedicated players who love these franchises.”
In his own message on LinkedIn, Hartmann said he’s “excited to get started” with his new gig.
“For nearly four decades, Ubisoft has created some of the industry’s most iconic franchises and earned a reputation for building ambitious AAA experiences that have entertained millions of players around the world,” Hartmann wrote. “It has long been a company I’ve admired for its creativity, the strength of its franchises, and, above all, the talented people behind them.
“My goal is simple: create an environment where talented teams can do their best work and continue building games that players love.”
While Hartmann is a significant addition to Ubisoft’s executive lineup, the company’s seemingly endless thrashing in the water has also cost it some notable names with serious institutional knowledge, including former Assassin’s Creed franchise boss Marc-Alexis Côté, former Assassin’s Creed Hexe creative director Clint Hocking, and former Assassin’s Creed Hexe game director Benoit Richer, all of whom have departed the company in recent months. In June, Ubisoft closed two studios, in Winnipeg and Belgrade, and laid off hundreds of employees; a report at the time by French site LesEchos claimed that further cuts at Ubisoft’s American operations are expected, although those cuts have not yet materialized.
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