Ex-Assassin's Creed main man Patrice Désilets will join THQ in summer 2011 to form a new Montreal Studio focused on creating brand new games.
Désilets was the creative director on the hugely successful Assassin's Creed franchise before his surprise split from Ubisoft just before E3 2010 in June.
At the time Ubisoft said Désilets had "decided to take a creative break from the industry".
Désilets had been intimately involved with the Assassin's Creed franchise since its inception and was a pivotal figure in the second game's path to success in 2009.
He had been expected to promote Brotherhood, due out later this month, at the US trade show. "With his role on the project essentially done, Patrice Désilets has decided to take a creative break from the industry and is no longer working on Assassin's Creed Brotherhood," Ubisoft said.
Now, THQ has the exclusive option to have Désilets work from the new Montreal studio beginning summer 2011. When he joins the studio, Désilets will be charged with the hiring of a new team that will develop new intellectual properties for THQ.
"The best way we can deliver fresh, high-quality gaming experiences is by working with the best talent. THQ is delighted to have the opportunity to make a brilliant addition to our team next year with Patrice Désilets," said THQ core games boss Danny Bilson.
"We expect calendar 2011 to be a watershed year for THQ, and adding developers like Patrice helps ensure our focus on new IP and great games charted by leading industry artists."
Bilson added: "Simply put, we can't wait for Patrice to join THQ. Patrice brings a passion for games rich with action-packed sequences, gripping characters and cinematic flair, and we're all looking forward to having him and his newly formed team develop an all new franchise with us."
THQ Montreal will be formed of two separate development teams, one of which will be led by Désilets, who is heading up an original IP project.
The other team will be led by a US designer, and will either be a new title based on an existing THQ franchise, or new IP if that doesn't work out.