Online Requirements Framework
Global online services guidelines deployed across all Ubisoft titles (2010-2012). Still referenced and iterated on today.
Executive profile
Jean‑Philippe Durand
Portfolio and title review leadership across multi-studio development
🟢 Available for executive leadership rolesFull-time or consulting
I'm game-first: the feel, the loop, the clarity of the fantasy. My job is to unlock talent, set a clear creative North Star, and create the conditions where strong ideas can emerge, be tested, and reach quality. I run structured title reviews, align cross-functional stakeholders, and turn feedback into clear decisions and follow-up actions.
17 years, multi-studio AAA coordination, 300M+ units across major franchises
Read more…
Background
Creative leadership grounded in computer science (CNAM/ENJMIN, 2009, CS Licence, Université d'Évry, 2007). 17 years shipping AAA franchises across 60+ titles, 300M+ units sold.
Key franchises
Assassin's Creed, Watch Dogs, The Division, Ghost Recon, XDefiant
Approach
- Evidence over opinion: Leverage user research, telemetry, playtesting, and industry metrics
- Playable prototypes early: Test core fantasies before committing to full production
- Constructive critique cadence: Observation-based feedback that empowers teams
- Clear player promises: Translate creative intent into coherent systems and shippable builds
- Follow-up discipline: Action logs, owners, timelines, and status reporting
Philosophy
Game Dev Principles
Core beliefs that guide my approach to editorial leadership and production.
Systems over scripts
When a world holds up on its own, player agency becomes deeper: they do not trigger scripts, they perturb a living system.
In practice: Early prototype gates validate systemic depth
Assassin's Creed Origins, Watch Dogs: Legion
Clarity enables execution
Teams ship best when creative intent is unmistakable. Ambiguity compounds through production, early clarity saves months of rework.
In practice: Clear creative pillars reduce rework
The Division, Ghost Recon Wildlands
Quality is continuous calibration
The best quality bar comes from ongoing conversation, not rigid gates. Teams need feedback loops, not just milestones.
In practice: Weekly cross-studio calibration sessions keep the bar aligned
Multi-studio governance (2017-2026)
Selected work
Recognizable franchises
A compact set for quick scanning.
Assassin’s Creed
2009-2019
230M+ units (2025)
Watch Dogs: Legion
Editorial guidance
GMTK Most Innovative 2020
The Division
New IP Delivery
40M+ players / 10M+ units sold
Ghost Recon Wildlands
Senior line design and UX support
10+ millions units
XDefiant
Core team support
8M unique players (launch month)
Global portfolio
60+ titles and expansions
From AAA to smaller title, solo to GAAS, esport to narrative openworld...
More:
MobyGamesSales figures based on public data (2020-2025) and official press releases. All numbers approximate.
About
Clarity, quality bar, alignment
I help teams ship ambitious games by clarifying creative intent, setting a consistent quality bar, and building lightweight production systems that keep teams aligned, from early concept through launch and live operations.
My work sits at the intersection of creative direction and delivery: ensuring priorities are clear, risks are managed, and cross-functional execution stays predictable across internal teams and external partners.
Leadership
High bar, clear calls
Quality governance, decision-making, stakeholder alignment, accountability.
Delivery
Predictable execution
Planning cadence, scope control, dependency management, risk mitigation.
Partnerships
Internal + external
External dev, client/studio collaboration, IP alignment, vendor workflows.
Craft
Player-first clarity
UX/UI readability, game design feedback, narrative sensibility, live ops transitions.
Core strengths
Operating Stack
Analytics, Planning & Delivery
Technical Fluency
Design & Prototyping
Read more…
How I work
- Evidence over opinion: Leverage user research, telemetry, playtesting, and industry metrics
- Playable prototypes early: Test core fantasies before committing to full production
- Constructive critique cadence: Observation-based feedback that empowers teams
- Clear player promises: Translate creative intent into coherent systems and shippable builds
- Follow-up discipline: Action logs, owners, timelines, and status reporting
Signals I look for
Player clarity, systemic depth, production feasibility, and a team feedback culture that scales.
Stakeholder collaboration
Direct collaboration with CEO, CCO, and Studio Managers. Coordinating cross-functional workgroups (design, user research, publishing, forecasting, finance, marketing) to ensure 360° understanding of project status and strategic alignment.
Key frameworks built
Game Mission Document
Mission pacing and balancing tool for open-world games. Used to analyze rhythm and player engagement across AC Origins, Odyssey, and Wildlands.
Experimentation milestones (concept, prototype, validation)
Lightweight review process for experimentation projects, from concept to prototype validation (2019-2023).
Post-Launch Analysis Process
Cross-reference analysis framework comparing launch performance to post-launch strategy. Continuous refinement (2015-present).
