Assassin’s Creed Hexe Leak Reveals Witch-Hunt Setting and Linear Gameplay
Ubisoft Montreal’s upcoming flagship title, Assassin’s Creed Hexe (codename “Hexe”), has been the subject of a major new leak revealing extensive details about the project. According to the report, the game is set during the 16th-century witch-hunt era of the Holy Roman Empire, with the title “Hexe” meaning “witch” in German. The game represents a significant departure from recent entries in the series, including Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, as it moves away from the sprawling RPG structure in favor of a more linear narrative approach with an emphasis on horror and psychological tension.
The player character is named Elsa, a woman who survived a witch trial. To deliver a more acrobatic and grounded action experience, Ubisoft has reportedly hired professional contortionists for motion capture work, with both the combat and parkour systems receiving a complete overhaul. The shift away from the large-scale RPG formula seen in recent titles suggests a return to the series’ earlier focus on tight storytelling and fluid movement, while the horror elements represent a uniquely dark direction for the franchise.
The project underwent significant directional adjustments following the departure of creative director Clint Hocking. The new lead, Jean Guesdon, has reportedly cut certain “magical” elements from the game, replacing them with more grounded explanations such as alchemy and illusion. In the most exciting revelation for longtime fans, the leak indicates that series legend Ezio Auditore will make an appearance in the mid-game as a mentor figure guiding Elsa. Due to these development changes, the release window has reportedly been pushed back to 2027.
The move from open-world RPG back to a linear structure, combined with the witch-hunt premise and the rumored return of Ezio, positions Assassin’s Creed Hexe as one of the most intriguing entries in the series’ history. The delay to 2027 is unfortunate, but the ambition on display here could make it worth the wait. Whether this return to a more focused format can recapture the magic of the franchise’s golden era is a question that will only be answered when the game finally ships.
