Marc-Alexis Côté, the lead of the Assassin's Creed franchise, stated that he "did not make the choice" to depart from Ubisoft

Update, October 17, 2025: Marc-Alexis Côté has publicly commented on his exit from Ubisoft, revealing that the decision was not of his own making.

In a LinkedIn post, Côté stated Ubisoft opted to place the Assassin's Creed series under new leadership that aligns more closely with its internal framework.

He noted, "An alternative role was proposed, though it lacked the influence, responsibility, and connection with my recent endeavors."

Côté conveyed no ill will towards Ubisoft, affirming: "The company has been my working environment for my entire career span. I'm thankful for the experiences, the collaborations, and the faith in our collective ability to create immersive worlds."

He added, "In the twilight of my career, I viewed my role as akin to guiding the Assassin’s Creed enterprise, stepping aside only when the transition was smooth."

He outlined, "I've worked towards this objective for as long as possible."

Original update, October 14, 2025: Marc-Alexis Côté, known for spearheading the Assassin's Creed series, has ended his two-decade tenure with Ubisoft.

This unexpected change follows the recent establishment of Vantage Studios, a Tencent-supported entity responsible for the oversight of several popular franchises, including Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six.

Beginning his journey at Ubisoft in 2005 as a software engineer, Côté advanced through roles such as tools and engine programmer and level designer. By 2010, he had taken his first directorial role. His later years were dedicated to the Assassin's Creed franchise, where he worked as creative director, senior producer, executive producer, and vice president executive producer, respectively.

As reported by IGN, Côté declined a post at Vantage. Employees were notified of his resignation via a company email, with leadership expressing the need for alignment with Vantage's strategic goals. Christophe Derennes, Vantage Studios co-CEO, expressed disappointment over Côté's departure.

An official statement from Ubisoft to GamesIndustry.biz indicated, "After restructuring changes implemented in March 2025, Côté has opted for a new path beyond Ubisoft."

While saddened by his exit, the company expressed confidence in the robustness of its remaining teams, attributing the resilience of the Assassin's Creed legacy to Côté’s impactful leadership, creativity, and commitment. They offered their heartfelt thanks for his significant contributions and wished him success in future endeavors.

Earlier, Ubisoft had declared a new subsidiary with Tencent backing, concentrating on flagship series such as Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six. Recently, in October, this division was named Vantage Studios following an employee vote, comprising 2,300 staff across locations like Montréal, Quebec, Sherbrooke, Saguenay, Barcelona, and Sofia.

Additionally, concerns arose among Ubisoft staff regarding alleged partnerships with Saudi Arabia.