Ex-Assassin’s Creed Boss Sues Ubisoft for $1.3M Over Dismissal

In a major legal escalation within the gaming industry, Marc-Alexis Côté, the longtime executive producer of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, has filed a lawsuit against Ubisoft in the Superior Court of Quebec. Côté is seeking approximately CAD $1.3 million (~$930,000) in damages, claiming he was a victim of "constructive dismissal." This legal move directly challenges Ubisoft’s official narrative from October, which stated that the veteran producer had resigned voluntarily. Côté is seeking compensation covering two years of unpaid salary and an additional CAD $75,000 (~$54,000) in moral damages for harm done to his professional reputation.

According to Radio-Canada, the lawsuit sheds light on a tumultuous period for the French publisher, tracing the conflict back to March 2025. According to the filing, Côté’s influence began to crumble after Ubisoft launched Vantage Studios, a new subsidiary backed by a massive investment from Tencent. The Chinese tech giant invested €1.16B (~$1.35B).

However, this influx of cash came with a significant leadership shake-up. Vantage Studios was placed under the control of Christophe Derennes, cousin of Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, and Charlie Guillemot, the CEO's son. For Côté, a 20-year veteran who viewed himself as the "captain of the Assassin’s Creed ship," this restructuring effectively removed his direct reporting line to the CEO and hollowed out his authority.

Blocked Candidacy and 'Unacceptable' Demotions

Tensions reportedly reached a breaking point during a meeting in the summer of 2025. Côté learned of a new "Head of Franchise" role designed to oversee Ubisoft’s biggest IPs, including Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six. Despite his experience and having just navigated the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows amidst intense online scrutiny, Côté alleges that CEO Yves Guillemot blocked his candidacy for the top job. 

The reason cited was his location; the role was based in France, while Côté was in Quebec. Instead, he was offered alternative positions, such as "Head of Production" or leading a "Creative House" for second-tier games. Côté viewed these offers as "unacceptable" demotions, as reported by GameRant. 

Refusing to accept a diminished role, Côté requested a severance package. He claims the company gave him some time to consider his options, only to cut off his access the very next day and publicly announce his resignation. Côté is now asking the court to strike down this clause, arguing it unfairly restricts his ability to find work in an industry already plagued by layoffs.

The situation stands in stark contrast to the public statements made last year. Following the announcement of his departure, Vantage co-CEO Christophe Derennes expressed that he was "disappointed" by Côté’s decision. 

However, Côté quickly took to LinkedIn to correct the record, writing, "I did not walk away. I stayed at my post until Ubisoft asked me to step aside." While Ubisoft has not yet issued a public comment regarding the lawsuit, the company has retained top legal counsel to contest the claims as it continues its efforts to streamline development across its global studios.