Tencent-Backed Ubisoft Subsidiary Appoints Co-CEOs to Lead Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six

Charlie Guillemot and Christophe Derennes, new co-CEOs of Ubisoft subsidiary (Image Credit: Ubisoft)

Ubisoft has officially appointed Christophe Derennes and Charlie Guillemot as co-CEOs of its newly formed Tencent-backed subsidiary — to revitalize some of the company’s most iconic franchises: Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six.

The announcement is part of Ubisoft’s broader restructuring plan, which includes organizing the company into “Creative Houses.” This newly created entity marks the first of those houses and is heavily supported by a €1.16 billion (roughly $1.25 billion) investment from Tencent. As CEO Yves Guillemot put it, this setup is meant “to give more autonomy to teams, increase accountability, so that you can focus fully on creating outstanding games. Games that we care about, that will shape our future, and that make us proud."

“This subsidiary is part of Ubisoft’s broader reorganization,” Yves said in an internal message, “and it marks the beginning of a new future that reconnects with what makes Ubisoft a truly unique company.”

Heading the initiative are Derennes, a Ubisoft veteran with over 35 years at the company, and Charlie Guillemot, the son of Yves Guillemot, who rejoined the firm earlier this year after co-founding a Web3-focused studio.

Their roles are clearly defined: Charlie will focus on the “what” — setting the brand direction, creative strategy, and marketing — while Derennes will take care of the “how,” overseeing production, co-development, and technology.

“Video game creation is a collective craft,” Charlie said. “Our goal is to create the right conditions for teams to push these brands to their full potential.”

While some questions have been raised about Charlie’s appointment due to his family connection, he addressed the concern directly to Variety, saying, “Yes, I’m Yves’ son — I don’t hide that. But my appointment isn’t about nepotism. It’s about what Ubisoft needs right now.” He added, “What matters now isn’t my name, it’s the work ahead.”

Derennes shared that the aim is to evolve Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six into more than just games. “They’re universes now,” he explained, “integral parts of pop culture with room to grow across platforms and audiences.”

The new structure is designed to give teams more autonomy and the ability to pivot quickly. “We’re not starting from scratch,” Charlie noted. “We’re evolving what already works and simplifying how we operate, so our teams can stay in tune with players and focus on delivering excellent games.”

Ubisoft believes this transformation will help the franchises stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry. “Whether it’s shorter-form content, generative AI, or the cultural impact of games — we’re thinking about what’s next,” said Charlie.

Tencent, which currently holds around 10% of Ubisoft’s voting rights, will act more like a "core strategic partner." Ubisoft emphasized that the Chinese tech giant will not be involved in daily operations but will contribute insights as the studio evolves. "Team will benefit from Tencent’s guidance and expertise, but will remain fully autonomous to act on it or not," Yves added.

As part of the ongoing changes, Ubisoft is also putting together six internal task forces to handle governance, HR, brand strategy, and other key areas.

Looking ahead, the company is working toward fully operationalizing the new subsidiary by the end of 2025. While there’s no word yet on who will replace Derennes as Managing Director of Ubisoft North America, the transition appears to be well underway.

“We want to create lasting experiences,” Christophe said. “Experiences that evolve with players, and ones that truly surprise and delight. That’s how we take these legendary franchises to the next level.”

In the lead-up to Ubisoft’s 40th anniversary, this new structure could define the company’s future. Whether the gamble pays off will depend on how well this new leadership can deliver the kind of immersive, high-quality experiences players have come to expect — and maybe even a few surprises along the way.