The Division Creative Director Julian Gerighty Leaves Ubisoft to Join EA’s Battlefield Studios

Ubisoft has announced a significant leadership change at Massive Entertainment, as Julian Gerighty, the creative director of The Division series, has officially left the studio to join Electronic Arts’ Battlefield Studios. This transition occurs just a week after Gerighty publicly addressed the future of The Division 3, making the timing particularly noteworthy for fans of the series.

Gerighty, who has been instrumental in the development of The Division, The Division 2, and the upcoming The Division 3, shared news of his departure on social media, with Ubisoft subsequently confirming his new position at EA. Though his specific role at Battlefield Studios has not been disclosed, this move represents a major change for both publishers.

Ubisoft's Reaction to Julian Gerighty’s Exit

In an official statement, Ubisoft acknowledged Gerighty’s departure while highlighting the continuity of The Division franchise.

“While we’ll miss him, his mark will live on at Massive, and we’ll continue to bring the world he’s been part of creating to our players for years to come,” Ubisoft said.

The publisher quickly let fans know that Gerighty leaving won't mess up any development for the franchise. Ubisoft made it clear that their long-term plans are still on track, which means they'll keep supporting The Division 2, The Division Resurgence, The Division 2: Survivors, and the much-awaited The Division 3.

Leadership Team for The Division Moving Forward

Ubisoft shared how leadership roles will be managed moving forward. Yannick Banchereau and Mathias Karlson, who've been with The Division for a long time, will keep their roles as creative directors for The Division 2 and The Division 3. Plus, Magnus Jansen, who's been with Massive Entertainment for a while, is back to lead the development of The Division 2: Survivors, the franchise’s extraction-based mode.

The studio made it clear that the main teams behind the series are still fully in place, showing stability even after a big name left.

Gerighty shared his own farewell message with the community, addressing fans directly in a tone familiar to long-time Division players.

“Agents! Quick update from the Base of Operations: It’s time for me to hang up my go bag (keeping the watch) as I go on another grand adventure,” he wrote.

“The Division future burns bright, and I can’t wait for you to discover what the teams have been working on. Long live The Division and Godspeed!”

What This Means for Battlefield

Gerighty's joining Battlefield Studios comes at a crucial time for the Battlefield series, which is in the middle of a creative overhaul after some mixed feedback on recent games. EA hasn't detailed what Gerighty will be doing exactly, but his background in managing big live-service shooters could be just what Battlefield needs as it moves forward.

This change also comes after some recent shake-ups at Battlefield Studios following the tragic loss of franchise leader Vince Zampella, who sadly passed away in a car accident in December. Gerighty's arrival might show that EA is looking to strengthen its creative leadership during this transition.

A Familiar Pattern at Ubisoft?

Ubisoft's statement made it sound like everything was cool with the departure, but it reminds us of some big names leaving the company before. Back in October 2025, Marc-Alexis Côté, who was the VP and executive producer for Assassin’s Creed, left Ubisoft just a few months after the hit launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Ubisoft had nice things to say about Côté’s leadership, but he later mentioned he was pushed out because he didn’t want to take a lesser role.

We don’t really know if Gerighty’s exit has a similar backstory. For now, both companies seem more interested in looking ahead than discussing the details of the departure.

If you're into The Division, Ubisoft wants you to know they're sticking to their plan, with experienced leaders steering the ship. On the flip side, Gerighty moving over to Battlefield Studios adds an interesting twist to EA’s efforts to breathe new life into this legendary shooter series.

As these two big franchises gear up for their next steps, everyone in the gaming world will be keeping an eye on how this big change shakes up these major live-service shooter brands.