Ubisoft’s Managing Director, David Polfeldt, is taking a 6-month hiatus from the big gaming studio during its busiest time. With Ubisoft Forward just occurring a couple of days before, the company’s E3 2021 announcements have their current developing schedule lineup packed with games like Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, an open-world Star Wars game, and maintenance of The Division 2. With 17 years at Ubisoft and 12 years as the studio’s managing director, Polfeldt is now announcing that he will be moving on to complete other challenges at the company.

Polfeldt will step down from his current position and begin his sabbatical on July 1.  Following his leave, he will return and receive a new “strategic role” position. As for the company, they have already stated that they have a replacement on deck ready to take on Polfeldt’s role, but the individual has not yet been named. In addition, Polfeldt’s new role hasn’t been named either nor his motive for the sabbatical–it seems like the high-ranking director just needed a bit of a break. On Massive Entertainment’s blog, Polfeldt sat down with the company to say some parting words, here’s what he had to say:

Seventeen years ago I joined a small Malmö-based indie-studio in a role that the founder defined as ‘Mister Fixlt.’ Little did I know what a roller-coaster adventure it would become! 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 to and exciting to me: a long break!

The studio wished Polfeldt nothing but sincerity as he announced his departure and hiatus, they also stated that he definitely needed and deserved a “well-earned break.” With being the studio’s acclaimed managing director since 2009, the next person to fill his shoes will have an inspiring individual to look up to.