Charlie Guillemot Returns to Ubisoft Amid Major Structural Shakeup

In a surprise development that’s raising eyebrows across the games industry, Charlie Guillemot — son of longtime Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot — is returning to the French publishing giant amid a critical period of internal restructuring.

After stepping down from Ubisoft in 2021 following a rocky tenure at Owlient, the mobile-focused studio behind the controversial Tom Clancy’s Elite Squad, Charlie is now back at the family business with a newly elevated role. According to internal communications obtained by Insider Gaming, Charlie Guillemot will co-lead Ubisoft’s freshly formed Transformation Committee, working alongside Marie-Sophie de Waubert, a veteran of Ubisoft’s editorial division.

The purpose of this committee is nothing short of rewriting Ubisoft’s internal operating model. Sources inside the company say the Transformation Committee is reporting directly to the Executive Committee and will help define how the publisher adapts to shifting industry trends and internal pressure following years of missed targets, delayed projects, and a damaged public image.

A Return Years in the Making

Charlie’s return marks a significant pivot for both the Guillemot family and Ubisoft as a whole. After exiting the company in the wake of backlash over Owlient’s use of Black Lives Matter imagery in Elite Squad, Charlie co-founded Unagi, a Web3 startup focused on blockchain-integrated gaming experiences.

While Unagi never fully broke into the mainstream, sources familiar with the matter say that Charlie’s return has been in discussion since late 2024. His new role coincides with Ubisoft’s announcement of a new partially-owned subsidiary created to manage some of its most valuable franchises — including Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six. That subsidiary is 25% owned by Tencent, which has invested more than €1 billion into Ubisoft since 2022.

Not Everyone Is Happy

Internally, the reaction to Charlie’s comeback has been mixed. Some Ubisoft employees, speaking under condition of anonymity, expressed concerns about nepotism and the optics of a Guillemot reasserting influence during a time of corporate instability. “We’ve barely recovered from years of mismanagement and reputational damage,” one developer told Insiders. “And now the CEO’s son is in charge of fixing the company?”

There’s also speculation that the formation of the Transformation Committee and Charlie’s co-leadership could further consolidate Guillemot family control over the company — especially in the wake of the Tencent partnership. Some minority shareholders have reportedly voiced concern about transparency and strategic independence.

Ubisoft at a Crossroads

Ubisoft is no stranger to internal crises. Over the past five years, the publisher has contended with a global reckoning over workplace misconduct, numerous delays (notably with Skull & Bones and Beyond Good & Evil 2), and a slate of underperforming titles. The company has struggled to find consistency even with tentpole franchises, as recent entries in Assassin’s Creed and The Division failed to generate the sustained engagement Ubisoft once considered standard.

The hope now is that Charlie Guillemot’s return signals a new era of adaptability. With AAA budgets ballooning and player expectations higher than ever, Ubisoft has publicly stated it intends to evolve its production pipelines and creative direction to better align with modern development trends — including AI-assisted tools, hybrid monetization models, and cross-platform infrastructure.

Whether or not Charlie is the right person to steer that evolution remains an open question.

What’s Next?

Ubisoft Forward, scheduled for June, is expected to shed more light on the company’s plans for 2025 and beyond. Insiders suggest that a new Assassin’s Creed reveal, updates on The Division Heartland, and a surprise announcement related to Prince of Persia could help signal a shift in public perception — if executed well.

In the meantime, the industry will be watching closely to see how Charlie Guillemot’s influence shapes the next chapter of Ubisoft’s legacy. Whether this move reflects a genuine desire for change or simply reaffirms old patterns wrapped in new packaging is yet to be determined.