Former Assassin's Creed Lead Sues Ubisoft Over 'Disguised Dismissal'

Ubisoft veteran Marc-Alexis Côté, who oversaw the Assassin's Creed franchise and spent over two decades with the publisher before his exit last year, has filed a lawsuit against the company after claiming he was the victim of a "disguised dismissal." Côté departed Ubisoft in October 2025, with his former employer initially telling outlets like IGN that he decided to pursue new opportunities elsewhere after being offered a new leadership role within Ubisoft's nascent Tencent-backed subsidiary, Vantage Studios. That version of events was disputed by Côté, who said he "did not make the choice" to leave in a post on LinkedIn. "Ubisoft decided to transfer the leadership of the Assassin's Creed franchise to someone closer to its new organizational structure," he added. "A different position was mentioned, but it did not carry the same scope, mandate, or continuity with the work I had been entrusted with in recent years." Now, as reported by Radio Canada (via Google Translate), Côté is suing Ubisoft for $1.3 million in damages after claiming he was essentially forced out of the company. The lawsuit, filed with the Superior Court of Quebec, alleges that Cote was offered a 'head of production' role within Vantage that would have placed him under the authority of a new 'head of franchise.' Côté claims the offer essentially served as a demotion, and would have resulted in a loss of prestige and power. In September 2025, Ubisoft purportedly restarted negotiations by offering Côté the chance to direct a new 'creative house.' It was a pitch Côté viewed as an "unacceptable downgrade" that constituted a "disguised dismissal." As a result, Côté reportedly instructed Ubisoft to pay out severance. The company, however, is alleged to have branded his exit a "voluntary departure," which Côté claims is a tactic that will allow Ubisoft to avoid paying compensation and maintain a non-compete clause. Côté is now demanding two years of salary and $75,000 in moral damages over what he claims is an abuse of power and an infringement on his reputation. He also wants the non-compete to be lifted so he can pursue employment opportunities elsewhere in the video game industry. Ubisoft has contracted international business law firm Fasken to challenge the lawsuit.