New Assassin’s Creed Hexe leaks point to a protagonist named Anika who descends from Claudia Auditore, a setting during the Würzburg witch trials, and the return of Ezio as a spectral mentor.
Assassin’s Creed Hexe is shaping up to be the darkest and most radical departure in the franchise’s history. First announced in September 2022 with a cryptic 30-second teaser, the Ubisoft Montreal project has remained shrouded in secrecy for nearly four years. That changed on May 12, 2026, when leakers known as Rogue and xJonathan dropped a wave of unverified but detailed claims covering the game’s protagonist, setting, gameplay systems, and a major returning character. Here is everything the leaks reveal and what we can piece together from earlier reports.
The Protagonist Is Anika, Not Elsa
According to the latest leaks, corroborated by multiple insiders, the game’s main character is named Anika. The previously reported name “Elsa” was merely an internal placeholder, similar to how Eivor was called “Jora” during Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s early development. Anika is said to be a direct descendant of Claudia Auditore, the sister of legendary Master Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze. This bloodline directly ties the new protagonist to the franchise’s most iconic family.
Earlier leaks from a separate source in early 2025 had used the name “Anakah Adler” and described a more detailed backstory: Anika’s mother is a midwife and her father an executioner, with the family living in southern Germany. While some of those earlier narrative details may have shifted under new creative leadership, the Auditore lineage appears to be a consistent thread across multiple leak sources.
Würzburg Witch Trials: The Darkest Setting Yet
The leaks place Assassin’s Creed Hexe during the Würzburg witch trials of 1625 to 1631, one of the largest mass-execution events in European history. During this period, the Prince-Bishop of Würzburg oversaw the trial and execution of hundreds of people accused of witchcraft, making it one of the most brutal chapters in the broader wave of witch hunts that swept the Holy Roman Empire between 1560 and 1630.
Würzburg will serve as the primary location, but other explorable areas are expected. The map is described as heavily forested, with dense woodlands forming a significant portion of the game world. A skill for “tree-to-tree branch jumping” is reportedly unlockable, directly calling back to the traversal system of Assassin’s Creed III. The overall atmosphere is described as dark, grim, and paranoia-driven, a far cry from the sun-drenched open worlds of Origins or Odyssey.
Is Ezio Auditore Really Returning?
The most headline-grabbing claim involves the return of Ezio Auditore. According to the leaks, Ezio will appear as a mentor figure for Anika, potentially as a spirit, ghost, or through Isu technology. Leaked voice lines paint a vivid picture of the dynamic between them. Anika reportedly says, “That white hood, it’s like the one in my mother’s drawings,” while Ezio responds with the franchise’s famous creed: “They always fear what they cannot control. They called us demons once, too. But remember, Anika: ‘Nulla è reale, tutto è lecito.’”
Other leaked dialogue includes Ezio saying, “Come. Leap with me. One last time for an old man,” and Anika declaring, “They call me a witch. They want to burn me for what I can do. For what I know.”
There is a significant timeline complication worth noting. Ezio dies in 1524 in Assassin’s Creed lore (as depicted in the short film Embers), while the Würzburg witch trials span 1625 to 1631. This century-long gap makes a physical, living Ezio impossible within the established canon. A spiritual or Isu-artifact-based appearance is the most plausible explanation, consistent with how the franchise has handled First Civilization technology in past games.
Earlier reporting from Tom Henderson at Insider Gaming in February 2026 noted that Ezio’s mentor role was part of early script drafts. Whether that element survived the multiple creative director changes (Clint Hocking’s departure in February 2026, Benoit Richer’s exit in April 2026, and Jean Guesdon’s takeover) remains genuinely unclear. Game Rant and GamesHub both stressed that this should be treated as a past development idea rather than a confirmed feature.
Gameplay: Blood Pacts, Poisons, and Heightened AI
The leaks outline several gameplay systems that reflect the paranoia and brutality of 17th-century witch hunts. Players will reportedly engage with blood pacts, poison-based mechanics, ritual site investigations, and stolen relic recovery missions. These activities suggest a darker, more investigative gameplay loop compared to recent entries.
Enemy AI is said to be significantly overhauled. NPCs will report even minor suspicious activity immediately, creating a constant sense of danger. Leaked guard voice lines reinforce this: “Form a circle, do not let her vanish,” “They say the forest moves at night,” and “Check the shadows! She can’t have gone far.” The heightened alert system ties directly into the historical context, where witch-hunting hysteria made any unusual behaviour potentially fatal.
Previous reports from Tom Henderson described a complete combat rework, including motion capture sessions with professional contortionists. This points to a protagonist who moves and fights in deliberately uncanny, almost supernatural ways. Under Jean Guesdon’s creative direction, however, the game has reportedly shifted toward a more grounded approach. The previously leaked cat-possession mechanic has reportedly been removed, replaced by alchemy-based abilities. Anika may use chemical knowledge (smoke bombs, poisons) that ordinary citizens mistake for witchcraft, blending historical realism with gameplay versatility.
A Fear System Inspired by Jack the Ripper
Multiple sources over the past two years have mentioned a fear system inspired by the Jack the Ripper DLC from Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. In that expansion, players could use intimidation tactics to terrify enemies and reduce combat encounters. The leaked details for Hexe suggest a refined version of this mechanic, fitting naturally into a world where an accused witch is both hunter and hunted.
Ubisoft’s own official description supports this tonal direction. In a March 2026 blog post titled “Assassin’s Creed: Into 2026,” head of content Jean Guesdon described Hexe as “a unique, darker, narrative-driven Assassin’s Creed experience, set during a pivotal moment in history.” The language aligns closely with what the leaks describe: a more linear, story-focused structure with less emphasis on the sprawling open worlds of Valhalla or Shadows.
When Is Assassin’s Creed Hexe Releasing?
There is no official release date. Based on insider reporting, the game was initially targeting June 2027, but this may slip to the holiday 2027 window (October to December). In April 2026, around 50 developers were reportedly moved off the project to Ubisoft’s internal team pool, a move interpreted as budget management that could signal a delay.
The development has been turbulent from a leadership standpoint. Three senior-level departures occurred in under a year: former series lead Marc-Alexis Côté left Ubisoft in October 2025 (and later filed a lawsuit), creative director Clint Hocking departed in February 2026, and game director Benoit Richer left in April 2026 to co-found an independent studio. Jean Guesdon, who directed Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and Origins, now leads the project.
Expected platforms include PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game is also confirmed to be part of The Animus Hub, Ubisoft’s unified launcher for Assassin’s Creed titles. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is considered likely but unconfirmed.
How Hexe Fits Into the Franchise’s Future
Assassin’s Creed Hexe sits in a pivotal position within Ubisoft’s roadmap. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, the franchise’s first full remake, launches on July 9, 2026. The multiplayer-focused Assassin’s Creed Invictus is also in development. Hexe, whenever it arrives, is intended to be the next major flagship single-player release.
If the holiday 2027 window holds, Hexe would land during the franchise’s 20th anniversary year, making it a symbolically important release. The potential inclusion of Ezio would amplify that nostalgia factor significantly.
What Players Usually Ask About AC Hexe
Are these leaks reliable?
The leaks come from Rogue and xJonathan, both of whom have a track record with Ubisoft information. However, nothing has been officially confirmed by Ubisoft, and the game has undergone multiple creative direction changes. Details from early development do not always survive to the final product.
Will Hexe be open world or linear?
Reports consistently describe a more linear, narrative-driven structure compared to the massive open worlds of Valhalla or Odyssey. Think closer to Assassin’s Creed Mirage in scope, but with a significantly darker tone and denser environmental detail.
How does Ezio’s timeline work if the game is set in the 1620s?
It does not work for a living Ezio. He dies in 1524 in established lore. If he appears, it will almost certainly be through supernatural or Isu-related means: a spirit, a memory echo, or a projection from a Piece of Eden.
Has the cat mechanic been removed?
According to reports citing Jean Guesdon’s creative changes, the cat companion feature has been cut. The game is moving toward a more grounded interpretation of “witchcraft,” relying on alchemy and chemistry rather than overt supernatural powers.
When will Ubisoft officially show the game?
No reveal date has been announced. Summer Game Fest and Gamescom 2026 are both plausible windows, but Guesdon stated in March 2026 that the team would “be quiet for a while longer.” A formal reveal may not come until late 2026 or early 2027.
Assassin’s Creed Hexe remains one of the most ambitious and uncertain projects in Ubisoft’s pipeline. The combination of the Würzburg witch trials setting, the Auditore bloodline connection, and a promised tonal shift toward darkness gives it enormous potential. Whether the final product lives up to these leaked promises depends heavily on how the current development team navigates the game’s final stretch. Until Ubisoft breaks its silence, every detail should be treated as credible speculation rather than confirmed fact.
