Ubisoft is turning an emblematic page in its history. Marc-Alexis Côté, key figure behind the franchise Assassin’s Creedofficially leaves the company after more than 20 years of career. The information, confirmed by an internal press release obtained by IGN, comes as the famous series enters a new phase of its strategic restructuring.
A career forged around Assassin’s Creed
Arriving at Ubisoft in 2005 as a software engineer, Marc-Alexis Côté — nicknamed “Mac” by his colleagues — quickly rose through the ranks. After working on Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sandshe joins the franchise Assassin’s Creed as lead level designer on Brotherhoodbefore becoming game director on Assassin’s Creed III. He then played a leading role on several flagship titles, notably Freedom Cry, Syndicate And Odysseyof which he was the main producer.
In March 2022, as the series moves towards a more unified architecture around the project Assassin’s Creed InfinityCôté is appointed as global director of the franchise. Under his leadership, Ubisoft Quebec is piloting the development of Assassin’s Creed Shadows and helping to establish an ambitious roadmap inspired by the Marvel model, including the highly anticipated Assassin’s Creed Hexe.
The Vantage Studios shift and refusal of a new role
This departure comes two weeks after a major announcement: Ubisoft now entrusts the operation of Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry And Rainbow Six has Vantage Studiosa standalone entity resulting from a strategic partnership with Tencent, which holds a 25% stake. This reorganization aims to refocus the commercial and creative objectives of these major franchises.
According to IGN, Marc-Alexis Côté was offered a management position within Vantage Studios, which he declined. In an internal memo, Christophe Derennes, co-CEO of Vantage, declared himself “disappointed” by this decision, citing differences of vision regarding the future of the studio.
Ubisoft, for its part, praised Côté’s immense contribution: “His leadership, creativity and dedication have had a lasting impact on our teams and our players. We wish him every success in all his future projects. »
A departure in the middle of a storm
Côté’s departure comes in a sensitive context for Ubisoft. Last December, in the midst of controversy linked to the choice of Yasuke as the black and samurai protagonist in Assassin’s Creed ShadowsCôté had publicly defended the historical diversity at the heart of the series. During a notable speech at the BAFTAs, he said: “Remaining faithful to history means embracing the richness of human perspectives, without compromise. »
His departure also echoes the recent cancellation of a project Assassin’s Creed ambitious set after the Civil War, with a former slave taking on the Ku Klux Klan. The project, deemed politically risky, was abandoned in the summer of 2024.
And now ? The future of Assassin’s Creed on hold
With the arrival of Assassin’s Creed Shadows scheduled for March 2025 and the rise of Vantage Studios, Ubisoft is entering a new era. The release of Hexe and the future of the Hub Infinity should define the next chapter of the franchise. But the absence of Marc-Alexis Côté, considered by many to be the modern architect of the series, leaves a creative void that the studio will have to fill.
It remains to be seen whether this restructuring will allow Ubisoft to retain the narrative and cultural DNA that made the game successful.Assassin’s Creed while meeting the new requirements of an increasingly globalized and competitive market.