Assassin’s Creed Franchise Lead Leaves Ubisoft Following Tencent Subsidiary Reveal

In a major shakeup for Ubisoft’s flagship franchise, Marc-Alexis Côté, the long-time creative leader behind the Assassin’s Creed series, has departed the company. The news comes only weeks after Ubisoft revealed its new joint venture with Tencent, officially named Vantage Studios, which will oversee key IPs including Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six.

According to IGN’s report, Ubisoft staff were informed of Côté’s departure through an internal email that emphasized “the need for Vantage Studios’ leadership team to be aligned with its core goals.” Sources indicate that Côté was offered a leadership position within Vantage Studios but declined the role, leading to his decision to leave Ubisoft entirely.

The statement Ubisoft provided to IGN and other outlets reads:

“Following the organizational restructuring announced in March 2025, Marc-Alexis Côté has chosen to pursue a new path elsewhere outside of Ubisoft. While we are saddened to see him go, we're confident that our talented teams will carry forward the strong foundation he helped build.”

Ubisoft further expressed gratitude for Côté’s two decades of service:

“We are deeply grateful for the impact Marc-Alexis Côté has had over the years, particularly in shaping the Assassin’s Creed brand into what it is today. His leadership, creativity, and dedication have left a lasting mark on our teams and our players. We thank him sincerely for his many contributions and wish him continued success in all his future endeavours.”

Côté’s exit marks the end of a twenty-year career at Ubisoft, where he played a pivotal role in shaping one of gaming’s most iconic franchises. He began working on Assassin’s Creed in 2009, contributing as a level designer, game director, and creative director before assuming the position of franchise overseer in March 2022. During his tenure, he guided the series through multiple creative evolutions, from its early stealth-action roots to its modern open-world RPG format seen in Assassin’s Creed Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla.

His departure arrives at a sensitive time for Ubisoft, as the publisher consolidates its resources under Vantage Studios, co-led by Charlie Guillemot (son of Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot) and Christophe Derennes. The new subsidiary was designed to centralize development of Ubisoft’s biggest properties in partnership with Tencent, signaling a more global and cooperative production model for its franchises moving forward.

Côté’s exit could mark a significant creative turning point for the Assassin’s Creed franchise as Ubisoft prepares for the next phase in the series, including upcoming titles such as Assassin’s Creed Codename Hexe and Assassin’s Creed Infinity.

Do you think Marc-Alexis Côté’s departure will impact the future of the Assassin’s Creed series? Or will Ubisoft’s new structure help the franchise evolve further?