Key Takeaways
1. Marc-Alexis Cote clarified that his departure from Ubisoft was not voluntary, as the company requested he step down from his role in the Assassin’s Creed franchise.
2. Cote rejected earlier reports that he turned down a new position at Tencent-affiliated Vantage Studios, stating the offered role did not match his previous level of responsibility.
3. He expressed no hard feelings about the situation, emphasizing the need to clear up confusion among colleagues, friends, and fans regarding his exit after nearly twenty years at Ubisoft.
4. Earlier communications from Vantage Studios described Cote’s departure as voluntary and expressed disappointment in his decision to leave, which contrasts with Cote’s account.
5. Cote’s exit reflects a larger trend of leadership changes in the gaming industry due to corporate restructuring, with many citing Microsoft’s influence in this context.
Longtime executive producer and franchise leader for Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series, Marc-Alexis Cote, has stepped forward to clarify that his recent departure from the company was not by his own choice. This statement contradicts earlier reports that suggested he voluntarily resigned after turning down a new position at Tencent-affiliated Vantage Studios.
Clarity on Departure
In a thorough LinkedIn update shared on October 17, 2025, Cote explained:
“The reality is straightforward: I didn’t make that decision. Ubisoft opted to shift the leadership of the Assassin’s Creed franchise to someone who aligns more with its new organizational setup.”
He went on to say that the role he was offered at Vantage Studios did not provide the same level of responsibility, authority, or continuity as his earlier position, where he managed the development of numerous titles in the series that have achieved sales of over 200 million copies globally since 2007.
No Hard Feelings
Cote, who has held various positions within Ubisoft, said he bears no ill will but felt it necessary to clarify the situation due to the confusion expressed by colleagues, friends, and fans about his exit after nearly twenty years with the company.
His comments come shortly after Ubisoft disclosed the creation of Vantage Studios on October 1, a new subsidiary partly owned by Tencent, which invested $1.25 billion for a 25% share while maintaining an advisory role.
Conflicting Messages
Earlier, in an internal email dated October 15, Vantage’s co-CEOs Charlie Guillemot and Christophe Derennes characterized Cote’s departure as voluntary, expressing their ‘disappointment’ that he turned down multiple offers to join the leadership team and instead opted to ‘begin his next chapter elsewhere.’
However, Cote clarified, stating, “I didn’t just leave. I remained in my role until Ubisoft requested that I step down.”
His exit follows a fruitful period at the company, during which he guided the Assassin’s Creed franchise through its most successful times, including hits like Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, Assassin’s Creed III, Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate, along with more recent entries such as Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Valhalla, and the upcoming 2025’s Assassin’s Creed: Shadows.
Marc-Alexis Cote’s departure is part of a broader trend of studio leaders resigning amidst corporate restructuring, a phenomenon where many view Microsoft as a key player. Ubisoft has not yet addressed the claims made in the LinkedIn post.
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