Ubisoft has been a household enterprise since its origination, and that pattern continued with the naming of CEO Yves Guillemot’s son, Charlie Guillemot, the co-head of the newly shaped, Tencent-backed Vantage Studios division of the French gaming big. Charlie already pushed again in opposition to nepotism accusations, and now his father has reacted to the issues as properly.
Speaking to Variety, the elder Guillemot mentioned Ubisoft was “created as a household firm” and it’s this family-oriented construction that he believes is crucial to the corporate at this time and into the longer term.
“This attitude guides our selections and helps us construct franchises, groups, and methods that endure for many years,” he mentioned.
Guillemot went on to say that Charlie and the opposite Vantage co-CEO, Christopher Derennes, are “the appropriate leaders” to run the studio.
“They bring about complementary strengths and expertise that make them well-suited for the position. Their appointment was based mostly on their abilities, observe document, and match for the position,” Guillemot mentioned.
Months in the past, Selection requested Charlie concerning the nepotism issues, and he mentioned he “fully” understands why some would have robust emotions about this, however maintained that he is the appropriate particular person for the job.
“Sure, I am Yves’ son. That is not one thing I cover from. However my appointment is not solely about household ties; it is about what Ubisoft wants at this second,” he mentioned on the time.
Charlie shall be in control of issues just like the “imaginative and prescient, path, content material improvement, and advertising” of Ubisoft’s three foremost franchises–Murderer’s Creed, Rainbow Six, and Far Cry–going ahead, whereas Derennes will oversee manufacturing, co-development, and expertise.
Charlie Guillemot acquired his begin in gaming at Owlient in 2014, and Ubisoft later acquired the horse simulation game developer. He left Ubisoft in 2021 earlier than rejoining the corporate in 2025, main as much as his promotion to co-CEO of Vantage. As for Derennes, he was a co-founder of Ubisoft Montreal in 1997 and was most just lately the managing director for Ubisoft’s North American operations.
Trying forward, Charlie said he expects generative AI and cloud applied sciences to “revolutionize” sport improvement and participant experiences. “Generally meaning shorter content material, talking to new generations that eat content material otherwise. I am satisfied the trade will face new tech disruptions we will not absolutely predict but. And Ubisoft intends to play an energetic position in shaping that future,” he mentioned.
His remark about generative AI is prone to trigger a stir given ongoing severe issues expressed by builders concerning the position of generative AI in sport improvement and potential job losses. A GDC research discovered that extra builders than ever consider generative AI is hurting the video games trade. Nevertheless it’s not shocking to listen to Ubisoft need to do extra with AI, as the corporate has been a big believer in generative AI for years already.