Marc-Alexis Côté, the former leader of the popular Assassin’s Creed series, is taking legal action against his old employer, Ubisoft. The lawsuit follows his unexpected and controversial exit from the company last year.

Côté left Ubisoft in October, but the circumstances surrounding his departure have been a point of contention. While Ubisoft stated that Côté chose to leave on his own, Côté maintains that he was actually pushed out by the company. According to reports from Radio Canada, the lawsuit seeks 1.3 million Canadian dollars. This amount covers lost severance pay and compensation for what is described as “moral damages.” Additionally, Côté is asking the court to remove the non-compete clause that currently restricts him from working for competitors.

The Creation of Vantage Studios

The legal filing suggests that the conflict began when Ubisoft established a new subsidiary called Vantage Studios in partnership with Tencent. This new company was formed to manage Ubisoft’s most valuable gaming franchises, including Assassin’s Creed. Côté, who believed he was in charge of the Assassin’s Creed brand, was reportedly surprised to discover that Vantage Studios was hiring for a new position titled “Head of Franchises.” This new role would have authority over Côté, effectively making him subordinate to someone else.

Côté alleges that Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot blocked his application for this senior position. The reason given was that Côté was based in Canada rather than France. Instead of the promotion he expected, Côté was offered a different role as “Head of Production.” This proposal led to tense discussions between Côté and Ubisoft management. Eventually, the company offered him the chance to lead a “Creative House” that would oversee second-tier Ubisoft brands rather than the flagship Assassin’s Creed series.

According to the lawsuit documents, Côté felt disoriented and anxious due to these sudden changes. He took a temporary break from work to process the situation and reflect on his future with the company.

A “Disguised Dismissal”

During his two-week break, Ubisoft management informed Côté that he would need to make a decision upon his return. He was expected to accept the new position as Head of Production or the Creative House role. Côté viewed this offer as an “unacceptable demotion.” He argued that this constituted a “disguised dismissal,” where the company creates conditions that force an employee to leave rather than firing them directly. Consequently, he demanded severance pay in accordance with what he believed were his rights under such circumstances.

Côté was scheduled to return to work on October 13th. However, the lawsuit states that Ubisoft instructed him not to come in while they formulated a response. Shortly after, the company publicly announced that Côté had left to seek new opportunities elsewhere. The lawsuit claims this announcement was a strategic move by Ubisoft to avoid paying severance and to enforce the non-compete clause. At the time of the announcement, Côté released an emotional statement clarifying that he did not walk away voluntarily but was asked to step aside.

Ubisoft has not yet issued a formal response to the lawsuit filing.

Côté’s Long Tenure at Ubisoft

Marc-Alexis Côté spent a total of 20 years working at Ubisoft, with 15 of those years dedicated specifically to the Assassin’s Creed franchise. His career progression within the company was significant. He started as a lead level designer for Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood and later served as the director for Assassin’s Creed III.

He then led Ubisoft Quebec, where the studio developed the Freedom Cry add-on for Black Flag and the main game Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. Côté was also the senior producer for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. In 2022, he ascended to the top role, taking control of the entire Assassin’s Creed franchise. He was instrumental in rebooting the series and launching a new era with Assassin’s Creed Shadows, which was released in March of last year.