Assassin’s Creed Franchise Leader Exits Ubisoft: What’s Next for the Iconic Series
Marc-Alexis Côté, the long-time leader of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, has exited Ubisoft after more than 20 years with the company. His departure comes shortly after Ubisoft transferred the franchise’s leadership to Vantage Studios, a new entity partly owned by Tencent.
Transition of Leadership in Assassin’s Creed Franchise
Ubisoft announced Côté’s departure in an internal email to staff. This restructuring aligns with Vantage Studios’ goals, emphasizing the need for leadership continuity. Côté was approached for a leadership role at Vantage Studios but declined the offer.
Côté’s Contributions to Assassin’s Creed
Côté’s career at Ubisoft began in 2005 as a software engineer. He worked on notable titles, including:
- Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands
- Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood as a lead level designer
- Assassin’s Creed III as game director
- Creative director on Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag DLC Freedom Cry, Syndicate, and Odyssey
In March 2022, he took over the Assassin’s Creed franchise, aiming for a cohesive storytelling approach, which included the planned release of Assassin’s Creed Hexe.
Future of Assassin’s Creed Series
Côté’s industry impact is significant, especially regarding the franchise’s storytelling direction. His recent defense of the series’ decision to depict a Black samurai protagonist in Assassin’s Creed Shadows garnered attention. He emphasized the importance of embracing diverse historical narratives.
His announcement follows the cancellation of another Assassin’s Creed game set in the post-Civil War era. This game featured a Black former slave protagonist fighting against the Ku Klux Klan but was shelved due to political sensitivities.
Looking Ahead for Assassin’s Creed
Ubisoft remains optimistic about the franchise’s future, confident in the talent and foundations Côté helped establish. The company expresses gratitude for his contributions and wishes him success in his future endeavors.
