After being sidelined, Côté says Ubisoft presented his exit as voluntary to bypass severance pay.
Assassin’s Creed has seen its fair share of in-game revolutions, but its latest upheaval appears to have come from behind the scenes. Ubisoft’s decision to hand the franchise over to a newly formed studio, Vantage Studios, reshaped the leadership of one of the publisher’s most iconic series, and left its longtime creative lead sidelined.
What followed has now spilled into the courts: According to a machine-translated report by Radio Canada, Marc-Alexis Côté, who led Assassin’s Creed for over 20 years, is suing Ubisoft, claiming the restructuring forced him out in what he describes as a constructive dismissal. The legal action seeks more than US$1.3 million in compensation, including moral damages, and challenges the company’s handling of his departure.
Côté had been a central figure in shaping Assassin’s Creed from Ubisoft Quebec for more than two decades, overseeing multiple generations of games and serving as a key contact for major partners, including Netflix. His departure in late 2025 marked the abrupt end of his long-standing tenure.
The dispute was triggered by an internal reorganisation at Ubisoft
The conflict began with Ubisoft’s internal restructuring announced in March 2025, when the company revealed the creation of Vantage Studios, co-led by CEO Yves Guillemot’s cousin Christophe Derennes and his son Charlie Guillemot.
The new studio took control over Assassin’s Creed, a move which the lawsuit claims diminished Côté’s influence. Previously reporting directly to Yves Guillemot, he now faced a new leadership layer that absorbed much of his responsibilities.
Tensions reportedly came to a head during a summer 2025 management meeting. Côté learned that a Head of Franchise role would oversee Assassin’s Creed along with two other major titles, superseding much of his remit. He was reportedly prevented from applying due to the position being based in France. Instead, he was offered the role of Head of Production, reporting to the new Head of Franchise, which is a demotion he considered “unacceptable.”
Further discussions included a proposal to lead a loosely defined Creative House focused on secondary franchises. Côté argues these offers stripped him of his status as the guardian of Assassin’s Creed, both in responsibility and prestige.
What were the claims and damages requested in Côtés’ lawsuit?
After taking two weeks to consider his options, Côté formally demanded severance pay, seeing the situation as a disguised dismissal. Ubisoft allegedly told him not to return to work on 13 October, while extending the reflection period. The following day, the company announced internally and via press release that Côté was leaving voluntarily to explore new opportunities. The lawsuit claims this framing avoided severance payments and enforced the non-compete clause.
Côté is seeking the equivalent of two years’ salary, citing difficulty in securing comparable executive positions during a downturn in the industry. He also requests US$75,000 in moral damages for alleged abuse of power and reputational harm, alongside lifting the non-compete clause restricting his ability to work elsewhere.
Marc-Alexis Côté declined to comment on the case. His lawyer, Catherine Asselin Jobin of Poudrier Bradet Avocats, said in an email to Radio Canada that her client hopes for “a negotiated, swift, and satisfactory resolution to the situation”. Ubisoft has not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
