Ubisoft Montreal, the lead studio behind the Assassin’s Creed franchise, has confirmed that the next instalment in the historical action-adventure series will instead be helmed by Ubisoft Quebec.
Writing on its official blog, the industry giant commented, “Ubisoft Quebec will be taking the lead on the development of a future Assassin’s Creed.”
This will mark the first time that the French publisher’s Montreal studio has not taken the lead on an Assassin’s Creed game since its inception in 2007.
Quebec, meanwhile, has had a hand in a number of Assassin’s Creed games over the years. It contributed to the development of Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, Assassin’s Creed III, as well as various expansion packs.
The studio is also in the process of rapid expansion.
"We plan to be at 425 people before the end of 2017," Managing Director, Nicolas Rioux said. The rising studio is committed to being in its upcoming St-Roch location for at least 14 years, as it’s already signed a dozen year lease for its under construction office which won’t be completed until 2016.
"One of the main missions of our studio is to be a leader in creating a universe – connected and mobile," Rioux said. "Beyond that, it’s to be able to connect to our universe wherever you want, with whatever device you want, and at any time you want."
This year’s chapter in the series, Assassin’s Creed Unity, is scheduled for release in October for PlayStation 4, PC, and Xbox One.