Just as the dust is settling from the launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, a seismic shift is happening at the top of Ubisoft. Marc-Alexis Côté, the veteran producer and creative force who has steered the entire Assassin’s Creed franchise for the past few years, is leaving the company. After a career spanning nearly two decades and touching almost every major entry in the series, his departure signals a major turning point for one of the biggest names in gaming.
This isn’t just a case of a key creative moving on. Côté’s exit is happening amidst a massive corporate restructuring that involves Chinese tech giant Tencent and a brand-new subsidiary set to control the future of not just Assassin’s Creed, but Far Cry and Rainbow Six as well. It’s a complex situation, so let’s unpack what’s going on.
A Pillar of the Franchise
To understand the weight of this departure, you have to look at Côté’s history with Ubisoft. He wasn’t just a suit; he was in the trenches for years. Joining in 2005, he worked his way up, making his mark on the Creed from the get-go.
He was a lead level designer for Brotherhood, a game director on Assassin’s Creed III, and the creative director for Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate. He then moved into a producer role, overseeing the RPG-era titans Odyssey and Valhalla. In 2022, he was handed the keys to the entire kingdom, becoming the VP and Executive Producer for the whole franchise. He was the architect of the current roadmap, including the interconnected “Animus Hub” (formerly Infinity) that Shadows just kicked off. In short, he’s been instrumental in shaping the series for over a decade.
The Vantage Point: A Restructure and a Refusal
So, why would he leave now? The answer lies in a new entity called Vantage Studios. As part of a major deal to secure a $1 billion investment from Tencent, Ubisoft has carved out its three biggest franchises-Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six-and placed them under the control of this new, separate subsidiary. While Ubisoft is still the majority owner, Tencent holds a 25% stake in Vantage, giving it significant influence.
The leadership of Vantage also raised eyebrows. It’s being co-led by Charlie Guillemot and Christophe Derennes, the son and cousin of Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, respectively. According to internal emails sent to staff, Côté was offered a key leadership position at Vantage. He turned it down.
The official reason given was that Côté “had his own expectations and priorities related to Vantage Studios’ creation and future.” This is polite corporate-speak, but it clearly points to a fundamental disagreement. He was not on board with the new structure or the direction it was headed, and he chose to walk away rather than be a part of it.
What’s Next for the Creed?
This leaves the franchise in a precarious position. The creative leader who laid out the multi-game, interconnected future for Assassin’s Creed is gone. No successor has been named. Instead, the future of the series now rests with the new leadership at Vantage Studios.
For some long-time fans, this news is being met with cautious optimism. On community forums, some players expressed that Côté’s vision for the series-particularly the move towards massive RPGs-felt like a departure from the stealth-action roots of the earlier games. There’s a hope that new leadership might steer the ship back towards a more traditional AC experience. However, others are concerned. The creation of a separate, partially-owned subsidiary focused on monetization and franchise growth could push the games further into a live-service model, something Côté was already building towards with the Animus Hub.
It’s a moment of truth for the series. Will the new leadership at Vantage listen to the core fanbase, or will they double down on chasing trends to satisfy investors? The answer will determine the fate of the franchise for years to come.
Conclusion
Marc-Alexis Côté’s departure is more than just a personnel change; it’s a symptom of a publisher in transition. Ubisoft is making huge, company-altering moves to stay competitive, and those moves are creating friction with the creative talent that built its empire. An undisputed veteran and creative force is out, a new entity backed by Tencent is in, and the future of one of gaming’s most beloved franchises is hanging in the balance. The next chapter for Assassin’s Creed is about to be written, but the author is no longer the same.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is Marc-Alexis Côté?
He was the Vice President and Executive Producer for the entire Assassin’s Creed franchise at Ubisoft. He had worked at the company for nearly 20 years and held key creative roles on games like Assassin’s Creed III, Syndicate, and Odyssey. - Why did he leave Ubisoft?
He left after declining a leadership position in Vantage Studios, a new subsidiary co-owned by Tencent that now manages the Assassin’s Creed brand. Internal communications suggest he disagreed with the “expectations and priorities” of this new structure. - What is Vantage Studios?
Vantage Studios is a new, separate company formed by Ubisoft to manage its three biggest franchises: Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six. Ubisoft is the majority owner, but Chinese tech company Tencent has a 25% stake. - Does Tencent own Assassin’s Creed now?
No, not outright. They are a minority stakeholder (25%) in Vantage Studios, the company that now controls the development and direction of the franchise. Ubisoft remains the majority owner. - Who is taking over the Assassin’s Creed franchise?
No direct successor to Marc-Alexis Côté has been announced. The franchise is now under the leadership of Vantage Studios, which is run by co-CEOs Charlie Guillemot and Christophe Derennes. - What does this mean for future Assassin’s Creed games?
It’s uncertain. Côté was the architect of the current multi-game plan (including the upcoming Hexe). His departure creates a leadership vacuum and could lead to a shift in creative direction, for better or worse, under the new management of Vantage Studios.