Former Assassin’s Creed boss Marc-Alexis Côté is reportedly suing Ubisoft for $1.3 million CAD, alleging his sudden exit last year was a “disguised dismissal” intended to avoid severance after he was sidelined in a major internal restructuring.
Former Assassin’s Creed franchise head Marc-Alexis Côté is reportedly suing Ubisoft for $1.3 million CAD, alleging his abrupt departure from the company amounted to a “disguised dismissal” designed to avoid paying severance.
According to Radio-Canada, Côté – who worked on the Assassin’s Creed series for 15 years – filed the lawsuit after what he reportedly described as an unacceptable demotion that left him with no viable role inside the company.
His exit last October shocked staff and fans alike, coming just weeks after Assassin’s Creed was placed under Ubisoft’s new Tencent-backed subsidiary, Vantage Studios.
Côté had spent more than two decades at Ubisoft and was promoted to oversee the Assassin’s Creed brand in 2022.
In that role, he helped define the series’ long-term roadmap, including future projects such as Assassin’s Creed Hexe.
However, his supposed lawsuit claims that early in 2025, he was effectively sidelined when Vantage installed new leadership above him, including Christophe Derennes and Charlie Guillemot, relatives of Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot.
The supposed filing alleges that Côté was later informed Ubisoft was seeking a new franchise boss and that he would not be considered for the position, partly because the role would be based in France rather than Canada.
He reportedly said he was instead offered diminished roles, including a “Head of Production” position reporting to a new franchise lead, or leadership over less prominent Ubisoft properties.
After indicating that his departure would require severance, Côté supposedly claimed Ubisoft instructed him not to return to work and announced his exit the following day.
The reported lawsuit seeks two years’ salary, additional damages, and the removal of a non-compete clause that currently restricts his ability to work elsewhere.
Ubisoft has previously said Côté “chose to pursue a new path elsewhere,” but has yet to comment on the legal action.
Former Assassin’s Creed boss reportedly sues Ubisoft following his ‘disguised dismissal’
