Julian Gerighty's Move to Battlefield: What It Means for The Division and the Future of Both Franchises

The End of an Era: Gerighty's Legacy and Departure from The Division

For nearly a decade, Julian Gerighty’s name has been synonymous with The Division. As the executive producer and series lead at Ubisoft’s Massive Entertainment, he was the visionary steward of the franchise’s unique identity: a grim, post-pandemic, loot-driven RPG-shooter that blended tactical cover combat with deep progression systems. His leadership guided the evolution from the ambitious, rocky launch of the first game to the refined and expansive world of The Division 2 and its subsequent mobile and standalone projects.

The timeline of his exit adds a layer of intrigue. Rumors first swirled in October 2025, which Massive Entertainment promptly denied. The official confirmation came on January 16, 2026, closing the chapter on his tenure. Gerighty’s farewell message on social media struck a tone of confident optimism: “It's time for me to hang up my go bag... The Division future burns bright, and I can't wait for you to discover what the teams have been working on.” It was a graceful exit, carefully crafted to project stability, but it marked the end of an era for a franchise built on his creative direction.

Reading Between the Lines: Ubisoft's Statement and Fan Concerns

Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment moved quickly to control the narrative. Their official statement was a masterclass in corporate reassurance, explicitly telling players “don’t worry” and emphasizing an “unchanged commitment” to the franchise’s future across all projects: The Division 2, The Division 2: Survivors, The Division Resurgence, and the long-awaited The Division 3.

However, the context surrounding this departure fuels legitimate fan anxiety. This news follows significant layoffs at Ubisoft, including 55 developers from Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft Stockholm. Furthermore, Gerighty is the second major franchise lead to depart following layoff announcements in roughly a year, after former Assassin’s Creed executive producer Marc-Alexis Côté. This pattern suggests a potential brain drain of institutional knowledge at a critical time.

The core concerns for The Division community are twofold. First, the status of The Division 3, announced nearly three years ago with no gameplay yet revealed. Gerighty himself had previously labeled the project a “monster,” hinting at its vast scale and complexity. His departure inevitably raises questions about its creative direction and timeline. Second, the franchise’s main pillar, The Division 2, will be seven years old on March 12, 2026. While supported by a dedicated team, the player base is keenly aware of the need for a next-generation successor. Ubisoft’s “don’t worry” is a direct response to these simmering concerns, a plea for patience as the foundation is tested.

A New Battlefield: Gerighty's Challenge and Battlefield's Current State

For EA, landing Julian Gerighty is a strategic coup. While his specific role at Battlefield Studios is undisclosed, his expertise in building persistent, loot-driven worlds and managing complex live-service narratives is a prized asset. He joins the franchise at a fascinating inflection point.

Battlefield 6 achieved a significant commercial victory in 2025, becoming the No. 1 best-selling game in the US through November and notably outselling that year’s Call of Duty entry. This success reaffirmed the franchise’s market power after a period of uncertainty. Yet, the post-launch road has been bumpy. The reception to Season 1 content has been mixed, and a late update introduced technical issues severe enough to force the postponement of a planned $1 million tournament for the “Redsec” mode. Furthermore, Season 2 has been delayed to February 17, 2026.

To bridge the gap, EA launched “Frostfire,” an extension for Season 1 beginning January 20, 2026, featuring new weekly challenges and double XP events. This move is a classic live-service tactic to maintain engagement during a content drought. Gerighty’s arrival signals EA’s commitment to not just fixing Battlefield 6’s live-service hiccups but to strategically planning the franchise’s long-term evolution. His challenge will be to help translate commercial success into sustained player loyalty through compelling systemic depth and narrative world-building—hallmarks of his work on The Division.

The Ripple Effect: Talent Wars and the Future of Live-Service Shooters

Julian Gerighty’s move is a stark case study in the intense competition for executive talent with proven live-service experience. As the industry continues to pivot toward games-as-a-service models, leaders who can successfully helm these ever-evolving projects become invaluable. This isn’t just a job change; it’s a key creative from Ubisoft, a pillar of the genre, joining a direct competitor in Electronic Arts.

The trajectories of the two franchises now subtly intertwine. The Division represents an established, mature live-service universe seeking a successful generational leap. Battlefield represents a franchise that has recently regained commercial momentum but is working to solidify its live-service foundations and long-term vision. Gerighty’s systems expertise—crafting satisfying loot loops, player progression, and open-world activities—could be precisely what Battlefield needs to deepen its engagement beyond its superb core gameplay.

For players, this sets the stage for a fascinating period of observation. The Division community will watch for tangible signs that The Division 3 is progressing with a clear, confident vision, scrutinizing every piece of news for evidence of the “unchanged commitment” Ubisoft promised. The Battlefield community will watch for how Gerighty’s influence might reshape their universe, potentially bringing a new layer of RPG-inspired persistence to the all-out warfare they love.

Conclusion: A Defining Test for Two Franchises

Ubisoft’s insistence on continuity suggests The Division’s operational foundations are solid, but the coming year presents a defining test: to prove the franchise can thrive and execute its ambitious vision for The Division 3 without its longtime creative steward. For EA and Battlefield, the test is one of integration—to harness Gerighty’s live-service and systems expertise to build a deeper, more persistent world without losing the soul of the all-out warfare that defines the series.

In the high-stakes arena of live-service shooters, talent is the ultimate currency. Julian Gerighty’s move has reshaped the battlefield, setting a compelling new chapter for both franchises. Success for The Division now means delivering on its promise independently. Success for Battlefield means evolving its foundation without compromising its identity. The players of both worlds are now watching closely, one for reassurance, the other for renewal.