User blog comment:D. Cello/Assassinews 01/17 -- ACW New Admin, key Ubisoft figure leaves AC/@comment-184.146.171.241-20120204203728/@comment-1153722-20120209193227

For future reference, don't make things up. Francisco Randez's face model is still being used, they are simply using new technology. HIs face had to be rescanned, and with the new technology he looks different from how he did in the other games. If you want to hear the devs say it, go here, then to 8:21. Desmond's face model wasn't the exact same one as Altaïr's and Ezio's, so they look different as well.