Former Assassin's Creed executive Marc-Alexis Côté has initiated a lawsuit against Ubisoft for CAD $1.3 million, citing lost severance pay after what he describes as a "disguised dismissal." Côté's unexpected departure occurred just after his promotion to lead the flagship Assassin's Creed brand. Allegations within the lawsuit state that Ubisoft's recent organizational changes shuffled Côté out of the franchise's leadership, leading to a lack of support from management and offering him roles with diminished responsibilities. The lawsuit seeks compensation for two years of salary, damages, and the removal of a non-compete clause that restricts his future employment.

nWhat led to Marc-Alexis Côté's departure from Ubisoft?

Côté's exit arose from an organizational restructuring within Ubisoft, which resulted in an "unacceptable demotion" and ultimately led to his lawsuit. He claims that after declining a new role that reported to the newly created leadership, he was told not to return to work and his departure was announced without his consent.

Marc-Alexis Côté has deep roots in the Assassin's Creed series, having worked with Ubisoft since 2005 as a programmer before ascending to lead producer on major titles like Assassin's Creed: Black Flag and Odyssey. His recent work aimed to steer the franchise towards a cohesive narrative strategy amid revitalization efforts, including new projects like Assassin's Creed Hexe. Côté's sudden removal raises questions about future developments in the franchise and its direction under new leadership.