A surprise move from Ubisoft Massive today as studio head David Polfeldt will step down from his leadership role in July. The news comes courtesy of Axios Gaming’s Stephen Totilo thanks to an internal memo from Ubisoft’s head of studios Virginie Haas.
In the memo, Haas reveals that Polfeldt informed management of his decision last fall, stating he was “ready for a new challenge.” Polfeldt officially leaves his position as Ubisoft Massive lead on July 1 with a six-month sabbatical. Afterward, Polfeldt will return to Ubisoft in a “strategic role.”
Massive’s new leader has already been found, writes Haas, stating that he will begin working at the Swedish studio starting in October. Due to a legal agreement with his current employer, Haas stated he couldn’t be identified just yet.
The change in leadership comes at a strange time for Ubisoft Massive. The studio just announced its next big project, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, at Ubisoft Forward last Saturday. Although details of the game remain scant, the cinematic trailer certainly made it appear like the game will be grand in scope to mirror the success of the first movie and coincide with the release of the sequel set to arrive in 2022.
Ubisoft Massive is also still maintaining and updating looter shooter The Division 2, as well as an all-new Star Wars MMO which was announced earlier this year.
There’s no indication that Polfeldt’s departure has anything to do with Ubisoft’s ongoing toxic workplace scandal, but Axios notes that other Ubisoft leaders have left their roles in recent years over the company’s work culture.
With so much on the go at Ubisoft Massive, the studio likely has plans fairly firmly in place to go a full three months without a leader. Avatar Frontiers appears to be at least far enough along that it likely doesn’t need any strategic pivots, while the still-unnamed Star Wars game is likely still in the pre-development phase. If ever there was a time for Massive to lose its head, it’s now.
