David Polfeldt, the head of Ubisoft Massive, the studio behind The Division 2, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and Ubisoft‘s upcoming Star Wars game, is stepping down from his role as the studio’s managing director. Polfeldt announced that he was leaving the studio in blog post on the studio’s website.
“Seventeen years ago I joined a small Malmö-based indie-studio in a role that the founder defined as ‘Mister FixIt’. Little did I know what a roller-coaster adventure it would become!” Polfeldt wrote in the blog post.
“When we signed Star Wars, and finally completed our beautiful building Eden in 2020, I felt an overwhelming sense of completion, as if I had achieved everything I once dreamt of. Standing on the solid foundation of The Division, Avatar, Snowdrop, and Ubisoft Connect, the studio is in fantastic shape, and I am exceptionally grateful for what we have accomplished together. Before I embark on a new adventure in Ubisoft, I will try something else which is new and exciting to me: a long break! Wish me luck, and see you in 2022.”
Given that Polfeldt has been with the studio for 17 years and served as its managing director for 12 of them, the rest sounds well-earned. Polfeldt will take a six-month sabbatical beginning on July 1st. After that, he will return to Ubisoft in a new strategic role. According to a Ubisoft spokesperson who spoke with Axios, Ubisoft has “already appointed David’s successor and look forward to sharing more details at a later date”.