Have you heard of Jade Raymond? She is one of the most influential and respected video game creators in the industry, best known for helping create the Assassin’s Creed and Watch Dogs franchises. She has also worked at some of the biggest companies in gaming, such as Ubisoft, EA, Google, and now Sony. In this article, we will explore her career and achievements, Sony’s acquisition of her new studio Haven Studios, and the legacy of Assassin’s Creed and Watch Dogs.

Jade Raymond was born in Montreal, Canada, in 1975. She graduated from McGill University with a degree in computer science in 1998. Her first job was as a programmer for Sony, where she helped create Sony Online’s first research and development group. She then moved to EA, where she worked as a producer on The Sims Online. In 2004, she joined Ubisoft Montreal as a producer on Assassin’s Creed, the first game in the hugely successful action-adventure series that blends historical fiction with sci-fi elements. She also served as an executive producer on Assassin’s Creed II, as well as other new IP at Ubisoft Montreal, such as Watch Dogs, an open-world hacking game set in a dystopian Chicago.

In 2010, Raymond moved to Toronto to build a new studio for Ubisoft as a managing director. There, she oversaw the development of games like Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Far Cry 4, Starlink: Battle for Atlas, and more. In 2015, she left Ubisoft to join EA as a senior vice president and formed Motive Studios in Montreal. She was also in charge of Visceral Games in California, where she collaborated with Amy Hennig on a Star Wars game that was later canceled. At Motive Studios, she also developed new original IP for EA.

In 2018, Raymond left EA to join Google as a vice president. She was tasked with leading Google’s Stadia Games and Entertainment division, which aimed to create exclusive content for Google’s Stadia streaming service. However, in February 2021, Google announced that it was shutting down its internal Stadia game development studios due to high costs and low returns.

In March 2021, Raymond announced that she had founded a new independent studio called Haven Studios, based in Montreal. The studio was backed by Sony and its first project was described as “a new IP for PlayStation”. In July 2021, Sony officially acquired Haven Studios and made it part of PlayStation Studios.

Throughout her career, Raymond has received many awards and recognition for her work. In 2018, she was named to the board of directors for the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Continuing the article:

In 2019, she was inducted into the Canadian Video Game Hall of Fame. In 2020, she was awarded the Vanguard Award by the Game Developers Choice Awards. She has also been featured in several lists of influential women in gaming, such as Time’s 100 Next, Fortune’s 40 Under 40, and The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Power 100.

Sony’s acquisition of Haven Studios was announced on July 21, 2021, by Hermen Hulst, the head of PlayStation Studios. Hulst said that he was “thrilled” to welcome Haven Studios to the PlayStation family and that he had “always admired” Raymond’s work. He also said that Haven Studios was working on “an exciting new IP that showcases the power of PlayStation 5”.

Raymond also expressed her excitement and gratitude for joining Sony and PlayStation Studios. She said that she was “incredibly inspired” by the creative vision of Hulst and his team and that she felt “a deep connection” with them. She also said that she was “looking forward to building something very special for the players”.

The acquisition of Haven Studios is part of Sony’s strategy to expand its portfolio of exclusive games for PS5 and to support independent developers with creative freedom and financial stability. Sony has also acquired other studios in recent years, such as Insomniac Games, Housemarque, Nixxes Software, and Firesprite. Sony currently has 16 studios under its PlayStation Studios umbrella, with more than 25 games in development for PS5.

The new IP that Haven Studios is working on for PS5 is still shrouded in mystery, but some details have emerged from various sources. According to a report by Bloomberg, the game is a sci-fi adventure title that will feature online elements and a service-based model. According to a job listing by Haven Studios, the game will also involve “rich characters, immersive worlds, and cinematic storytelling”. The game is expected to launch sometime in 2023 or later.

The game will also leverage the PS5 features, such as the SSD, the DualSense controller, the 3D audio, and the ray tracing. Raymond has praised the PS5 hardware and said that it will enable her team to create “a more immersive experience” for the players. She has also said that she wants to make a game that is “fun to play with your friends” and that will “bring joy into your life”.

The game will also compete with other games in the sci-fi genre, such as Starfield, Mass Effect, Destiny, No Man’s Sky, and more. Raymond has said that she is not afraid of competition and that she believes that there is room for innovation and diversity in the gaming market. She has also said that she wants to make a game that is “unique” and “different” from what she has done before.

Assassin’s Creed and Watch Dogs are two of the most popular and successful franchises in gaming history, both created by Ubisoft Montreal with Raymond’s involvement. They have sold millions of copies worldwide, received critical acclaim, spawned multiple sequels and spin-offs, and influenced many other games in their genres.

Assassin’s Creed is an action-adventure series that revolves around the conflict between two secret societies: the Assassins and the Templars. The games are set in different historical periods and locations, such as the Crusades, the Renaissance, the American Revolution, the French Revolution, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and more. The games feature a mix of stealth, parkour, combat, exploration, and narrative elements. The games also have a sci-fi twist, as they are framed as simulations of genetic memories accessed by a device called the Animus.

Watch Dogs is an open-world series that focuses on hacking as a gameplay mechanic. The games are set in modern-day cities, such as Chicago, San Francisco, London, and more. The games allow the player to hack into various devices and systems, such as cameras, traffic lights, phones, cars, drones, etc., to manipulate the environment and achieve their objectives. The games also deal with themes such as surveillance, privacy, corruption, social media, artificial intelligence, etc.

Both franchises have had a significant impact and influence on the gaming industry and culture. They have introduced new Continuing the article:

innovations and features to the gaming medium, such as the dynamic crowd system, the social stealth mechanic, the seamless multiplayer mode, the hacking gameplay, etc. They have also inspired many other games to adopt similar elements, such as Shadow of Mordor, Horizon Zero Dawn, Spider-Man, Cyberpunk 2077, etc. They have also expanded into other media forms, such as comics, novels, animated series, and live-action films.

However, both franchises have also faced some challenges and criticisms over the years. Some of the common issues that have been raised by fans and critics include the repetitive gameplay, the buggy performance, the lack of innovation, the controversial monetization, the historical accuracy, the political stance, etc. Both franchises have also undergone some changes and experiments in their direction and style, such as the RPG elements in Assassin’s Creed Origins and Odyssey, the co-op mode in Watch Dogs: Legion, etc.

Despite these challenges and criticisms, both franchises have also shown resilience and potential for growth and improvement. Both franchises have received positive reviews and sales for their latest entries, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Watch Dogs: Legion. Both franchises have also announced new projects and updates for the future, such as Assassin’s Creed Infinity, a live-service platform that will feature multiple settings and timelines, and Watch Dogs: Legion of the Dead, a zombie mode that will add a new twist to the hacking gameplay.

In conclusion, Jade Raymond is a remarkable video game creator who has helped create two of the most iconic franchises in gaming history: Assassin’s Creed and Watch Dogs. She has also worked at some of the biggest companies in gaming, such as Ubisoft, EA, Google, and now Sony. She has also founded her own independent studio called Haven Studios, which is working on a new IP for PS5. She has also received many awards and recognition for her work.

Sony’s acquisition of Haven Studios is a strategic move that will benefit both parties. Sony will gain access to a talented team led by Raymond and a new exclusive IP that will showcase the power of PS5. Haven Studios will gain support and freedom from Sony and PlayStation Studios to create their vision. The new IP that Haven Studios is working on is a sci-fi adventure game that will feature online elements and a service-based model. The game will also leverage the PS5 features and compete with other games in the sci-fi genre.

Assassin’s Creed and Watch Dogs are two of the most popular and successful franchises in gaming history. They have introduced new innovations and features to the gaming medium and influenced many other games. They have also expanded into other media forms and reached a wide audience. However, they have also faced some challenges and criticisms over the years. They have also undergone some changes and experiments in their direction and style. Despite these challenges and criticisms, they have also shown resilience and potential for growth and improvement.

We hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about Jade Raymond, Sony, Haven Studios, Assassin’s Creed, and Watch Dogs. What do you think about these topics? Are you excited for the new IP that Haven Studios is working on? What are your favorite games from Assassin’s Creed and Watch Dogs? Let us know in the comments below!

Q: Who is Jade Raymond?

A: Jade Raymond is a video game creator who helped create the Assassin’s Creed and Watch Dogs franchises. She has also worked at Ubisoft, EA, Google, and Sony. She is currently the founder of Haven Studios.

Q: What is Haven Studios?

A: Haven Studios is an independent studio founded by Jade Raymond in 2021. It is backed by Sony and its first project is a new IP for PS5.

Q: What is Assassin’s Creed?

A: Assassin’s Creed is an action-adventure series that revolves around the conflict between two secret societies: the Assassins and the Templars. The games are set in different historical periods and locations.

Q: What is Watch Dogs?

A Continuing the article: