Ubisoft Assures Fans The Division Is Secure Following Major Executive Departure and Studio Layoffs
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Ubisoft reassures players that The Division franchise remains secure after executive producer Julian Gerighty leaves Massive Entertainment for EA amid studio layoffs.
Massive Entertainment is facing a transitional period as long-time executive producer Julian Gerighty departs Ubisoft after twelve years to join EA and work on the Battlefield franchise. This high-profile exit arrives right on the heels of Ubisoft announcing new staff layoffs at Massive following a voluntary redundancy period that failed to meet corporate reduction targets. Leadership changes at major studios always raise eyebrows in the community, especially when paired with internal restructuring and workforce reductions, leaving players naturally concerned about the stability of ongoing projects.
To calm the community, Ubisoft quickly issued a public statement emphasizing that the broader development team remains firmly in place. The publisher confirmed that key creative talent is still driving the franchise forward, pointing to veterans Yannick Banchereau and Mathias Karlson holding creative director roles on The Division 2 and The Division 3 respectively, while Magnus Jansen is leading the new extraction mode called Survivors. Ubisoft explicitly reaffirmed its commitment to the entire roadmap, mentioning The Division 2, Survivors, the mobile spin-off The Division Resurgence, and the highly anticipated third mainline installment.
While corporate reassurances are standard industry practice during executive shuffles, the real test will be how these upcoming projects handle player expectations in a crowded live-service market. The Division 3 was originally announced back in 2023, and while updates have been sparse, Gerighty previously teased that it will make a massive impact on the series. As development continues across multiple platforms, players are watching closely to see if Massive can maintain its creative vision and delivery schedule through this period of corporate turbulence. Original reporting from Rock Paper Shotgun.
Tags: Ubisoft, The Division, Massive Entertainment, Battlefield, Industry News
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun