Marc-Alexis Côté, the former head of the Assassin’s Creed series, has filed a lawsuit against Ubisoft just seven months after the successful launch of ‘Shadows’, one of the franchise’s standout titles. The lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of Quebec, claims $1.3 million in damages, which includes two years of salary and $75,000 for moral damages. Côté argues that his departure from the company was the result of a ‘constructive dismissal’ stemming from hostile working conditions following the creation of Vantage Studios, which took over the direction of the series.
Ubisoft once again in trouble
Since joining Ubisoft in 2010, Côté had seen himself as the “captain” of the Assassin’s Creed ship. However, after the restructuring that led to the formation of Vantage Studios, his responsibilities and the scope of his work were drastically reduced. Côté expressed his discontent as early as October, noting that despite not having chosen to step down, he found himself in an unacceptable situation that forced him to make difficult decisions. Referring to his transition to a position with fewer powers, Côté said that his influence had “crumbled” since the creation of the new studio.
The former executive indicated that he was not considered for a higher position in Ubisoft’s structure, which solidified his perception of a hostile environment. The lawsuit reflects his perspective that the restructuring not only affected his position but also his professional integrity. His statements on LinkedIn and his recent legal action underscore a growing tension between Ubisoft’s management and its former executives, raising questions about the company’s future and its strategy towards a series that has historically been one of its greatest economic pillars.