Ubisoft has appointed Christoph Hartmann as the new General Manager of Creative House 2, the business unit responsible for the Splinter Cell, The Division, and Ghost Recon franchises. The move was announced by the company this week. Hartmann is a veteran of the video game industry, having founded the 2K Games label at Take-Two Interactive before leaving in 2017. He subsequently served as the head of Amazon’s games division, a position he left in January of this year.
The appointment comes as Ubisoft restructures its development operations to focus on key intellectual properties. Creative House 2 is one of several internal business units designed to streamline production and management of major game series. Hartmann’s role will involve overseeing the strategic direction and development of these three prominent franchises.
Hartmann’s career includes founding 2K Games, where he oversaw the launch of major franchises including Borderlands and BioShock. His tenure at Amazon was marked by challenges as the company sought to establish a foothold in the competitive PC and console gaming market. According to reports, Hartmann’s departure from Amazon in January was part of a broader retreat by the company from original game development for those platforms.
Background on Hartmann’s Career
Christoph Hartmann is widely recognized for his work in building the 2K Games label from the ground up. The label became a major publisher under Take-Two Interactive, releasing critically and commercially successful titles. His experience at Amazon Games involved overseeing projects such as the multiplayer game Crucible, which was canceled shortly after its launch, and the ambitious but delayed MMO New World.
His appointment at Ubisoft places him in charge of franchises with significant historical and commercial value. Splinter Cell, a stealth action series, has not seen a mainline entry since 2013, though a remake was announced in 2021. The Division and Ghost Recon remain active franchises with ongoing game and expansion development.
Implications for Ubisoft’s Development Strategy
The selection of a high profile executive like Hartmann suggests Ubisoft is prioritizing stability and strategic management for these core titles. The company has faced recent financial and organizational challenges, including project delays and internal restructuring. Bringing in an executive with experience managing both large scale publishing and first party game development is a move to address these issues.
Industry observers will be watching for concrete developments regarding the Splinter Cell remake, which has been in early development at Ubisoft Toronto. Hartmann’s leadership could influence the timeline and scope of that project. The Division and Ghost Recon series continue to generate revenue through live service models and regular content updates, areas where Hartmann’s experience at Amazon with live games may prove useful.
Ubisoft has not provided a specific timeline or roadmap for upcoming titles under Creative House 2. The company is expected to release more information during future earnings calls or industry events. Hartmann’s appointment takes immediate effect, and he will work alongside other Creative House leads within the Ubisoft organization.
Source: GamesIndustry.biz
