‘I Stayed Until I Was Asked to Step Aside’: Former Assassin’s Creed Lead Denies He Resigned

Marc-Alexis Côté, the longtime steward of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, insists he did not voluntarily walk away from Ubisoft. After nearly two decades designing, directing, and producing for one of gaming’s biggest IPs, Côté says the decision to leave was not his own.

This week, news broke that Côté had exited just as Ubisoft shifted its power structure, putting a new subsidiary, Vantage Studios, partially owned by Tencent, in charge of major franchises like Assassin’s Creed. The narrative from Ubisoft execs painted Côté’s departure as a personal choice after declining a leadership position at Vantage. Côté, however, says that framing isn’t accurate.

What Really Happened? Côté Offers His Side

On LinkedIn, Côté directly addressed colleagues and fans, many of whom were caught off guard by his departure. “From the messages of colleagues, friends, and fans, a recurring theme has emerged that I feel the need to clarify,” he wrote. “Many of you have expressed surprise that I would choose to leave Assassin’s Creed after so many years, especially given the passion I still hold for it.”

Côté’s explanation is blunt: “The truth is simple: I did not make that choice. Ubisoft decided to transfer the leadership of the Assassin’s Creed franchise to someone closer to its new organisational structure.”

He elaborates that while Ubisoft did offer him another role, it simply didn’t compare to what he’d been doing. “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.” In Côté’s view, this new job was a step down, one that effectively ended his two-decade run at the studio.

Despite the abrupt change, Côté stays positive about his Ubisoft tenure. “I want to be clear that I hold no resentment,” he says. “Ubisoft has been my home for all my professional life, and I will always be grateful for the people, the projects, and the belief that together we could create worlds that inspire millions.”

But, for the benefit of his team and fans, Côté is adamant his exit was not a matter of choice. “But I also owe it to my teams, past and present, to say this plainly – I did not walk away. I stayed at my post until Ubisoft asked me to step aside.”

Behind Ubisoft’s Organisational Shake-Up

Ubisoft’s public account came in the form of an email to staff from Vantage’s co-CEOs, Charlie Guillemot and Christophe Derennes. According to them, Côté was offered “several opportunities” to help steer Vantage’s strategy, but “respectfully declined and decided to look to start his next chapter elsewhere.”

They expressed disappointment but said they “understand and respect that MAC had his own expectations and priorities related to Vantage Studios’ creation and future.”

But Côté’s clarification makes clear he didn’t see the new opportunities as a real continuation of his role: “I grew up inspired by Star Trek (The Next Generation!) In the later years of my career, I came to see myself as the captain of the Assassin’s Creed ship, someone who leaves only once every soul on board is safe. And that is exactly what I have done for as long as I could.”

With Ubisoft entrusting its most lucrative franchises to this new, Tencent-backed studio, it’s no surprise that the house is being reorganised. But Côté’s account underlines how even the most embedded leaders can be displaced, all while the corporate messaging suggests it’s “their decision.”

For fans, the shake-up marks not just the end of Côté’s tenure, but a clear signal that change, not always voluntary, is the new normal within Ubisoft’s marquee franchises.