Former Assassin’s Creed boss Marc-Alexis Côté has clarified the reasoning for his departure from the series, stating he “did not walk away” but was asked to “step aside” by Ubisoft.
Earlier this week, news emerged of Côté leaving Ubisoft following the formation of the new Tencent-backed subsidiary Vantage Studios, which will develop future Assassin’s Creed games.
In an internal memo, Vantage Studios CEO Christophe Derennes reportedly stated Côté had “his own expectations and priorities related to Vantage Studios’ creation and future”, while a statement from Ubisoft affirmed Côté had “chosen to pursue a new path elsewhere outside of Ubisoft”.
Now, in a post on LinkedIn, Côté has clarified that while he was offered another role in the company, it did not “carry the same scope, mandate, or continuity with the work [he] had been entrusted with”.
“Many of you have expressed surprise that I would choose to leave Assassin’s Creed after so many years, especially given the passion I still hold for it,” Côté’s post reads. “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 organisational structure.
“A different position was mentioned, but it did not carry the same scope, mandate, or continuity with the work I had been entrusted with in recent years.”
Côté continued that he holds no resentment towards Ubisoft, which has “been [his] home for all [his] professional life”.
“But I also owe it to my teams, past and present, to say this plainly: I did not walk away,” he said. “I stayed at my post until Ubisoft asked me to step aside.”
Côté has left Ubisoft after almost two decades at the company, joining the Assassin’s Creed team for Brotherhood before leading the series’ future.
Ubisoft and Tencent announced Vantage Studios earlier this month, which will now be responsible for the company’s biggest franchises, such as Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six Siege.
