World Director (F/M/NB)

Company Description

Ubisoft’s 19,000 team members, working across more than 30 countries around the world, are bound by a common mission to enrich players’ lives with original and memorable gaming experiences. Their commitment and talent have brought to life many acclaimed franchises such as Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Watch Dogs, Just Dance, Rainbow Six, and many more to come. Ubisoft is an equal opportunity employer that believes diverse backgrounds and perspectives are key to creating worlds where both players and teams can thrive and express themselves. If you are excited about solving game-changing challenges, cutting edge technologies and pushing the boundaries of entertainment, we invite you to join our journey and help us create the unknown.

Ubisoft Bordeaux

Founded in 2017, Ubisoft Bordeaux works with passion on the biggest AAA titles to deliver the best gaming experiences. Today, the studio is composed of 400 talents from 20 different nationalities, working on licenses such as Assassin's Creed, Beyond Good & Evil 2 and a free to play game, BattleCore Arena. At the same time, the studio has set up a Tech branch which works on all Ubisoft's online services (named Online Services) as well as on the Anvil game engine. Ubisoft Bordeaux is also home to a R&D team, La Forge, which brings together engineers and researchers to work together on prototypes for game production, particularly around AI topics.

Job Description

As the World Director, you will be responsible for the consistency and quality of the open world, as defined by the creative vision. As a member of the core team, you will ensure the richness and coherence of the game world by overseeing the logic, rules, world-building, and system interactions to create an immersive world for players to explore.

You will be the reference point and contact for the team regarding the justification of world-building choices and will be responsible for aligning creative decisions with the microcosm of the game world under development.

As the World Director, your responsibilities will include:

• Creating a feasible and coherent world direction with a solid understanding of game mechanics, systems, technical constraints, and production capacity
• Being responsible for the world's logic and providing the narrative, art, and design teams with elements aligned with the overall creative vision
  • For example, geological origins, landscape, climate, biomes, fauna, population, urbanism, culture, technology, society, governments, laws, etc., according to the nature and needs of the game.
• Working with the Creative Director to ensure the world direction aligns with the game's creative vision
• Communicating and ensuring the consistency of the world vision to all other involved teams (Level Design, Level Art, and Technical Direction)
• Creating the World Bible, centralizing documentation and research in collaboration with other core team members
• Organizing and developing fiction consistent with the game's world rules
• Acting as an advocate for an exploration-based game, aiming to create a game world that inspires and rewards players' curiosity
• Working with the game design teams to define the world's rules and systems, shaping activities and gameplay for players
• Overseeing the implementation of prototypes to ensure a living, rich, interesting, credible world that aligns with the initial intent
• Identifying and implementing technical innovation tools with the Art and Design Technical Directors to achieve open-world ambitions
• Responsible for world layout (landmarks, points of interest, etc.) and ensuring that level design and artistic direction align with your vision and the Creative Director's overall vision
• With the Producer and/or Creative Director, determining production priorities and potential scope adjustments regarding the world
• Understanding consumer needs and ensuring that developed elements contribute to player satisfaction and enjoyment
• Creating a work environment that motivates lead designers and fosters creativity

Qualifications

Extensive experience on AAA open world project (from the conception to the ship) as a Lead or Director (design, art, narrative, or design) or in an equivalent role.

Additional skills:

• Knowledge of creating immersive worlds
• Excellent gameplay building and placement skills
• Excellent knowledge of game engines and platforms
• Strong understanding of system design and experience in designing emergent behaviors
• Knowledge of transmedia strategy
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of the video game development process
• Ability to effectively communicate guidelines
• Ability to review work done by others and suggest improvements if necessary
• Ability to present ideas, convey world design direction, and provide constructive feedback
• Ability to collaborate effectively with graphics, game design, gameplay programming, and other project teams
• Passion for video games and extensive knowledge of the industry

Additional Information

• Studio: role base in Bordeaux - France
• OnSite based position - Work from home pace to define
• Contract: Permanent 

Hiring Process: 

• Phone interview with one of our recruiters
• Several technical and/or project interviews with the manager and his/her team and producers

If your application is not retained, you will receive a negative answer.

We are working to enrich players’ lives through unique and memorable gaming experiences and by improving the positive impacts of our games. To get there, we are creating a safer, more inclusive work environment, we are giving back to the communities where Ubisoft operates by working with local non-profit partners and by working to reduce the environmental impact of our business. Learn more on our Social Impact here.

Check out this guide to help you with your application, and learn about our actions to encourage more diversity and inclusion.