Former Ubisoft executive Marc-Alexis Côté has filed a lawsuit in Quebec, alleging that the company effectively forced him out of his role through what he describes as constructive dismissal. The claim seeks approximately CAD 1.3 million in damages, marking one of the most high-profile legal disputes involving Ubisoft’s senior leadership in recent years.
Côté spent more than two decades working on the Assassin’s Creed franchise and most recently served as Vice President and Executive Producer, a position he assumed in March 2022.
Lawsuit Details and Financial Claims
According to court filings, Côté is seeking damages equivalent to two years of salary, along with an additional CAD 75,000 in moral damages. These moral damages are tied to alleged reputational harm and professional consequences following the way his departure was handled.
The lawsuit also requests the removal of a non-compete clause, which Côté argues significantly restricts his ability to find new employment within the games industry.
Disputed Departure From Ubisoft
Ubisoft publicly announced Côté’s departure in October 2025, stating that he had declined a position at the newly created Vantage Studios. The company presented the move as a voluntary decision.
Côté has strongly contested that version of events. In a public statement shared at the time, he said he “did not walk away” from Ubisoft and explained that he remained with the company until he was asked to step aside. While he emphasized that he held no resentment, the lawsuit argues that Ubisoft treated his exit as a resignation, allowing the company to avoid paying severance.
Allegation of Constructive Dismissal
At the core of the complaint is the claim of constructive dismissal. Côté alleges he was presented with a substantially diminished role that did not reflect his seniority, responsibilities, or long-standing leadership of one of Ubisoft’s most important franchises.
Under this claim, the choice he was given was effectively to accept a reduced position or leave entirely—an action he argues should legally be considered termination rather than resignation.
Vantage Studios and Corporate Restructuring
The dispute unfolds against the backdrop of major structural changes at Ubisoft. Vantage Studios was created as a Tencent-backed spin-off designed to reorganize several of the publisher’s flagship franchises, including Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six, under shared leadership and centralized resources.
Tencent invested approximately €1.16 billion in the initiative, securing around 25 percent ownership. Ubisoft positioned the move as a necessary step to stabilize funding, streamline development, and address performance challenges following several underperforming projects.
Côté’s lawsuit suggests that these internal changes played a direct role in how his position was altered and ultimately eliminated.
What This Could Mean for Ubisoft
If the court rules in Côté’s favor, the case could set an important precedent for how executive restructuring and role reassignments are handled within large game publishers. It may also raise broader questions about non-compete clauses and how companies classify executive departures during major reorganizations.
At the time of writing, Ubisoft has not publicly commented on the lawsuit.
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