Ex-Head of Assassin’s Creed Sues Ubisoft After Alleged Disguised Termination

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Marc-Alexis Cote, the former head of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, is suing Ubisoft for over $1.3 million, alleging disguised termination following internal structural changes. Cote left Ubisoft in October 2025, after nearly 20 years with the company. He had served as a designer, director, and producer on the series before being appointed in 2022 to globally lead the franchise and strategize its long-term direction. According to a report by Radio Canada, Cote’s situation was impacted by the creation of Vantage Studios, a new Ubisoft subsidiary backed by Tencent overseeing the company’s three biggest intellectual properties: Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six. This development followed the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which, according to sources, contributed to a period of crisis for Ubisoft.

Two weeks into Vantage’s operations, co-CEOs Charlie Guillemot and Christophe Derennes informed employees and the press that Cote had been offered a leadership position within the new structure. Cote declined the offer. He was reportedly offered the job of Head of Production, reporting to the new Head of Franchise, and the option to lead another business unit focusing on Ubisoft’s secondary franchises. When Cote inquired about heading the Assassin’s Creed franchise, he was told he was not the right fit and would not have Yves Guillemot’s support, as the position was to be based in France, not Canada. Cote’s lawsuit, filed in Quebec’s Supreme Court, seeks $1.3 million CAD (approximately $935,000 USD), including two years’ salary and $75,000 for moral damages. The lawsuit alleges that Ubisoft deemed Cote’s demand for severance pay unacceptable and instead characterized his departure as voluntary to avoid payment. Cote then issued a statement asserting that he had not resigned but was asked to step down because Ubisoft wanted to transfer Assassin’s Creed leadership to someone more aligned with the new organization.

CBC Radio Canada reports that during a mid-2025 management meeting, Ubisoft announced plans to create the Franchise Head position, which would oversee the three IPs transferred to Vantage and absorb most of Cote’s responsibilities. He was instead offered the role of Head of Production, subordinate to the new Franchise Head. Cote claims this would have meant a loss of prestige and autonomy, including in strategic negotiations with partners like Netflix. He further claims that in September, Ubisoft suggested he take a leadership position in a potential Creative House focused on the company’s less prominent franchises. Cote, who considered himself the guardian of the Assassin’s Creed series, viewed these offers as demotions. The lawsuit states that Ubisoft asked Cote not to return to work after October 13th, and the following day publicly announced his departure as voluntary. Cote argues that this was intended to avoid paying compensation and to maintain the non-compete clause, which typically becomes ineffective upon dismissal. The suit seeks the equivalent of two years’ salary plus $75,000 for moral damages, alleging abuse of power and harm to his reputation. Cote is also asking the court to suspend the non-compete clause.

Lawsuit Filed by Former Assassin’s Creed Global Leader Against Ubisoft Over Alleged Sidelining Post-Structural Changes

It is important to note that there is another Marc-Alexis Cote who is a freelance writer based in Croatia, specializing in game-related content. This individual is separate from the former Ubisoft executive producer involved in the lawsuit described above. Despite stating at the time of his departure in October 2025 that he held no ill will toward the publisher, Cote is now pursuing legal action, alleging that he was sidelined following the aforementioned structural changes. He had been appointed in 2022 to globally lead the franchise and strategize its long-term direction.

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