Ubisoft's Darkest Secret: The 14-year War of AC Hexe & 1666 Amsterdam

Every gamer loves a resurrection story — but few know the one that nearly broke Ubisoft. This is the 14‑year saga of 1666: Amsterdam: a tale of corporate betrayal, courtroom revenge, and creative resurrection that may have forced Assassin’s Creed Hexe to reinvent itself. If you love dark history, witchcraft, and gaming drama, grab your popcorn. This is the true story of how one man’s vision caused a massive ripple in the industry.

The Mastermind vs. The Machine
To understand this war, you need to know Patrice Désilets. He is the legendary creative architect behind Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Assassin’s Creed, Assassin’s Creed II, and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.

How Prince of Persia became Assassins' Creed
In 2010, he walked away from Ubisoft’s empire to chase creative freedom. By 2011, he joined THQ Montreal to build his ultimate dream project: a supernatural historical thriller called 1666: Amsterdam.
Then fate played its cruelest trick.
THQ went bankrupt in late 2012. Ubisoft swooped in, bought THQ Montreal, and suddenly owned Désilets’ new game, the very project he’d left them to create. Months later, following bitter creative clashes, Ubisoft fired him, had him escorted out of the building by guards, and shelved 1666: Amsterdam. The game vanished, and the legend began.

The Legal Witch Hunt
Most creators would have surrendered. Désilets didn’t. He founded Panache Digital Games and fought Ubisoft in court for three grueling years.
While fighting for his IP, his studio released Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey (2019), a survival game that re-engineered the raw climbing and traversal mechanics he pioneered in Assassin's Creed but stripped away the safety nets. It was a clear statement to the industry that he didn't need AAA corporate backing to innovate.
Then, in April 2016, he pulled off the absolute impossible: Désilets won 100% of the creative and intellectual property rights to 1666: Amsterdam back from Ubisoft. It was more than a legal victory — it was a creative exorcism.
Revealed during the Summer Fest 06/06/2026

The Resurrection of 1666: Amsterdam

Fast‑forward to Summer Game Fest 2026. After a decade of complete silence, 1666: Amsterdam has officially returned from the grave.
A free 30‑minute standalone demo of 1666: Amsterdam (Prologue) has officially dropped on Steam and the Epic Games Store, with the full game slated for an Early Access launch later this year.

The Vision of 1666: Amsterdam

Protagonist: You play as Noa Brooklyn, “The Collector,” a Zaindaris witch who hunts demonic entities called The Originals hiding behind human faces.
Timelines: The narrative uniquely spans across three distinct eras: 1333, 1666, and 1999.
Core Identity: Noa is accompanied by Aaron, a man from 1999 trapped inside the body of a cat. The cat possession mechanic is central to the game's identity, letting players seamlessly switch between Noa's spellcasting and Aaron's agile feline stealth.

It’s eerie, elegant, and unlike anything a traditional publisher would ever ship.

Ubisoft’s Counterspell: Assassin’s Creed Hexe

While Désilets spent years independently building his passion project, Ubisoft began crafting its own witch‑trial epic, Assassin’s Creed Hexe. Announced in 2022, Hexe promised to be the “darkest Assassin’s Creed yet,” set amid the 16th‑century Holy Roman Empire’s witch hunts.

Assassin's Creed Games revealed by Ubisoft

But behind the scenes, Hexe’s development turned highly chaotic, leading to a massive director carousel:

Clint Hocking, known for experimental gameplay in Far Cry 2 and Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, originally led the project before departing.
Game Director Benoit Richer exited the project shortly after.
Ubisoft eventually brought in veteran Jean Guesdon (Black Flag, Origins) to stabilize the ship.

Here is where the industry drama gets strange. Early leaks heavily described Hexe's protagonist as a witch who could possess a cat—a mechanic eerily similar to 1666. Following Désilets’ legal victory and the public re-emergence of 1666, Ubisoft reportedly began changing direction, toning down Hexe's supernatural elements.

Coincidence?

Fact vs. Gossip: Sifting Through the Leaks
Confirmed Facts
1666: Amsterdam features cat possession and a multi-timeline mystery as its core mechanics.
Assassin’s Creed Hexe is set during historical witch trials and is currently helmed by Creative Director Jean Guesdon.
1666: Amsterdam is not canceled. The playable 1666: Amsterdam (Prologue) proves it is alive and actively in development.
Industry Rumors & Leaks
The Hexe Delay: Prominent insider leaks claim Hexe has been internally delayed to a late 2027 release window.
The Rework: Rumors suggest that under Guesdon, the literal supernatural elements are being toned down to be more "grounded," replacing actual magic with psychological illusions and fear.
Character Leaks: Unconfirmed leaks point to a protagonist named Elsa (or Anika) and suggest Ezio Auditore will make a narrative cameo via ancient Isu voice recordings.

Reality vs Hype
Now that both projects are public knowledge, how do they actually stack up in the eyes of the community?

1666 Demo Status
With the surprise drop of the prologue demo on Steam, players have finally gotten their hands on Désilets' mechanics. Currently, user reviews sit at a Mixed rating.
The Good: Fans are praising the bold atmospheric direction, the high-concept triple timeline narrative, and the distinct indie charm.
The Critique: Some players noted that a 30-minute slice feels highly experimental and functions strictly as a narrative framework rather than a traditional gameplay loop. However, since Panache Digital Games explicitly stated that the core investigation mechanics and full supernatural combat won't begin until the Early Access launch later this year, most players are treating this strictly as an enticing proof of concept.

AC Hexe leaked image

Hexe Hype
Meanwhile, Assassin's Creed Hexe is riding entirely on the back of AAA franchise expectations and secrecy, keeping official gameplay hidden under lock and key.
The Good: Anticipation remains incredibly high for the premise alone. The promise of the franchise's first true horror-adjacent entry set during the European witch trials has core fans genuinely excited for a fresh break from the standard formula.
The Critique: The ongoing community conversation is plagued by caution due to behind-the-scenes drama. Multiple high-profile developer departures, corporate restructuring rumors, and leaks regarding a gameplay "overhaul" have left parts of the fanbase worried that the project might lose its original identity in development limbo.

The Industry’s Dark Mirror

Ubisoft once tried to bury 1666: Amsterdam. Now, its resurrection may have forced Assassin’s Creed Hexe to completely reinvent itself. Both games explore witchcraft, possession, and paranoia, but only one was born from true creative rebellion.
As the saying goes: “1666: Amsterdam isn’t just a game. It’s the revenge of a creator who beat Ubisoft at its own game.”

The Verdict
History repeats itself—but in the gaming industry, it competes. Currently the Steam reviews for the 1666 If you want to experience the unfiltered, independent vision from the original creator of Assassin's Creed, go download and play the 1666: Amsterdam (Prologue) right now. If you want Ubisoft's massive AAA corporate spectacle, you'll just have to wait and see if Jean Guesdon can successfully steer Hexe out of development limbo.

Which side are you betting on? Are you playing the 1666 demo today?

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PLAY 1666 Amsterdam (Use creator code: SIXBURN)
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