Luc Couture, a longtime senior designer at Ubisoft’s Montreal studio, has announced his departure from the company after roughly 21 years, becoming one of the most experienced developers to leave the publisher during a period of internal change.
Couture said February 3, 2026 marked his final day at Ubisoft Montreal, describing the move as a personal decision after a long tenure. In a public message, he said he was “in need of some change” and would “soon pivot” to new challenges at a smaller studio alongside other industry veterans, without naming the company.
His career at Ubisoft spanned some of the publisher’s most prominent franchises. Couture began working on the Prince of Persia trilogy during the PlayStation 2 era before moving into senior world and open-world design roles. Media reports note that he held senior design responsibilities on the original Assassin’s Creed and remained involved as the series expanded into large-scale open worlds.
According to the same reports, Couture also contributed to Far Cry 4 and Watch Dogs, and most recently served as world design director on the upcoming Assassin’s Creed project codenamed Hexe, which remains in development.
See also: Ubisoft Staff Raise Concerns as Layoffs and Project Cancellations Continue
While Couture framed his exit as a voluntary career shift, the timing has drawn attention as Ubisoft faces ongoing organizational and workplace pressures. Recent reporting has highlighted internal tensions linked to return-to-office policies and legal disputes involving former senior leadership, underscoring a broader period of transition for the company’s flagship studios.
Source: GamesRadar