Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s creative director steps down

Just a few months away from launch

Ubisoft has lost the captain of its big Viking warship. Ashraf Ismail, the creative director on Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, has abandoned the project.

Ismail has stepped down from leading Valhalla a little earlier today with the following tweet:

I am stepping down from my beloved project to properly deal with the personal issues in my life. The lives of my family and my own are shattered. I am deeply sorry to everyone hurt in this.

— Ashraf Ismail (@AshrafAIsmail) June 24, 2020

Ismail adds “There are hundreds of talented, passionate people striving to build an experience for you that do not deserve to be associated with this. I wish them all the best.”

The effect of Ismail’s departure probably won’t be felt much in Valhalla. It’s launching this holiday, meaning the creative direction has certainly been locked in place by now. However, Ismail is a longtime Assassin’s Creed leader, having helmed Black Flag and Origins. It’s unclear if he’s leaving Ubisoft or just taking some time away. If it’s the former, Assassin’s Creed will have lost an important piece who helped shape two of the series’ best games.