Veteran developer Clint Hocking is officially back in the industry. Just a few months after his unexpected departure from Ubisoft, the creative mind behind Far Cry 2 has announced the launch of his new studio, Build Machine Games.

Hocking previously served as the creative director for the highly anticipated Assassin's Creed Hexe, making his sudden exit from the Ubisoft project in February a major talking point within the industry. Now, he is pivoting toward a fresh start with a team focused on high-impact storytelling.

The Vision for Build Machine Games

Describing his new venture on LinkedIn, Hocking characterized the studio as "lean and fast," while emphasizing that the project remains "bold and ambitious." The studio's mission focuses on creating emotionally resonant and socially relevant titles designed to challenge player empathy and perspective.

While the official website features some standard industry mission statements, the core values of Build Machine Games are notably aggressive:

  • Lead From the Front
  • Always Attack
  • Challenge to Improve

The studio aims to elevate the gaming medium by providing developers with autonomy, accountability, and access to cutting-edge technology.

A Proven Track Record in AAA Development

Despite the corporate polish of a new studio launch, Hocking brings an elite pedigree to the table. His history includes pivotal roles at some of the most influential names in gaming. His resume features:

  • Splinter Cell Series: Served as both level designer and scriptwriter for the original title, and later as Creative Director for Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory.
  • Ubisoft Hits: Acted as Creative Director on Far Cry 2 and Watch Dogs: Legion.
  • Valve: Spent time at Valve, a feat that speaks to his high-level technical and design expertise.
  • Amazon: Worked as the Creative Director for Crucible.

Moving Forward After Ubisoft

Hocking’s exit from Ubisoft was shrouded in some mystery. While Ubisoft issued a standard professional farewell, the timing closely mirrored the controversial departure of Assassin's Creed franchise head Marc-Alexis Côté. While there has been no public indication of conflict regarding Hocking’s exit, his departure from the Assassin's Creed Hexe project certainly signaled a period of transition for the developer.

As Build Machine Games begins its journey, the studio is currently recruiting for a small number of positions to begin work on its first prototype. For now, recruitment is limited to residents of Canada, but with Hocking’s history of defining genres, the industry will undoubtedly be watching closely to see what this new studio produces.