Assassin’s Creed veteran Marc-Alexis Cote says his departure from Ubisoft wasn’t his choice, contradicting earlier accounts that framed it as a voluntary move after he declined a new role at Vantage Studios, a Tencent-co-owned subsidiary.
In a LinkedIn post dated October 17, 2025, Cote wrote, “The truth is simple: I did not make that choice. Ubisoft decided to transfer the leadership of the Assassin’s Creed franchise to someone closer to its new organizational structure.” He added that the position offered at Vantage did not carry the same scope, mandate, or continuity as his previous responsibilities overseeing the blockbuster franchise.
Cote emphasized he holds no resentment but wanted to clear up confusion among colleagues and fans who were surprised by his exit after nearly two decades with the company. His clarification arrives shortly after the October 1 announcement of Vantage Studios, a new Ubisoft subsidiary partially owned by Tencent, which invested $1.25 billion for a 25% stake while remaining in an advisory capacity.
An internal email sent October 15 by Vantage co-CEOs Charlie Guillemot and Christophe Derennes described Cote’s departure as his decision, saying they were disappointed he turned down multiple leadership opportunities and chose to “start his next chapter elsewhere.” Cote disputed that characterization directly: “I did not walk away. I stayed at my post until Ubisoft asked me to step aside.”
During his tenure, Cote helped guide Assassin’s Creed through some of its most celebrated and commercially successful releases, including Brotherhood, Assassin’s Creed III, Syndicate, Odyssey, Valhalla, and 2025’s Assassin’s Creed: Shadows. Since its 2007 debut, the franchise has sold more than 200 million copies worldwide.
Cote’s exit adds to a wider pattern of high-profile leadership changes across the games industry amid ongoing restructuring. Ubisoft has not responded to his LinkedIn statement at the time of writing.
The leadership shuffle raises fresh questions about the future direction of Assassin’s Creed and how Ubisoft’s evolving structure—and Vantage’s role within it—might shape the series going forward. Fans will be watching closely to see how the franchise continues under its new stewardship.
