A Veteran Game Creator Takes on Ubisoft

Marc-Alexis Côté, a long-time leader at Ubisoft, is taking legal action against the company. He claims he was forced out of his role as head of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Côté worked at Ubisoft for 20 years and led Assassin’s Creed since 2022. He says he was demoted and then pushed out of the company. Côté filed a lawsuit in Quebec, asking for $1. 3 million Canadian dollars in damages. He alleges that Ubisoft made him choose between two lesser roles or leave the company. He refused and was then told he was leaving voluntarily. Côté wants the court to release him from a non-compete clause that limits his future job options. Ubisoft recently created a new subsidiary called Vantage Studios. This move changed how major franchises like Assassin’s Creed are managed. Côté reported directly to the CEO before this change. The new structure put someone else in charge of the franchise, effectively demoting Côté.Côté’s departure came after the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. This game was delayed to allow for more development time. Côté had announced in 2022 that the franchise would shift to longer development cycles. He said this would make the process more sustainable for the teams working on the games. The lawsuit also mentions other projects that were announced but have not been released. These include a multiplayer spin-off called Invictus and a mobile game called Jade. A remake of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is rumored to be coming soon. Côté’s legal battle highlights the challenges faced by long-time employees in the gaming industry. It also raises questions about how companies handle major changes in leadership and structure.