Assassin’s Creed Boss Marc-Alexis Coté Leaves Ubisoft After Tencent-Backed Vantage Studios Launch
A Big Shakeup Inside Ubisoft
Ubisoft, the gaming giant behind Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six, is going through a huge change right now. The longtime Assassin’s Creed boss, Marc-Alexis Coté, has decided to leave the company after more than 20 years of service. The timing is interesting, because this move comes right after the launch of Vantage Studios, a new subsidiary backed by Tencent that’ll now lead Ubisoft’s biggest game franchises.
For fans and the gaming community, Coté’s exit isn’t just another resignation — it kinda feels like the end of an era.
Who Is Marc-Alexis Coté and Why Fans Care About His Exit
If you’ve played any Assassin’s Creed games in the last few years, there’s a good chance you’ve felt Marc-Alexis Coté’s influence. He joined Ubisoft way back in the early 2000s, helping grow Assassin’s Creed from a single title into one of gaming’s most successful franchises. In 2022, he became Vice President and Executive Producer for the entire series.
Recently, Ubisoft offered Coté a major role in their new unit, Vantage Studios, but he politely declined. According to internal sources, he had his “own expectations and priorities” for how the studio should evolve — something that didn’t quite match the new direction.
What Exactly Is Vantage Studios and Why Tencent Is Involved
Vantage Studios is Ubisoft’s new global powerhouse designed to run its three biggest franchises — Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six. The company says the idea behind this move is to make development faster and more unified across regions.
Tencent, which owns about 25% stake in Vantage, invested around €1.16 billion (roughly ₹10,700 crore) to help the studio expand. It’s a major deal, and honestly, it shows how serious Tencent is about getting deeper into international game development.
Tencent’s Growing Footprint in Gaming
Tencent’s name keeps popping up everywhere in gaming — they’ve already got stakes in Epic Games, Riot Games, and many others. Now, with its investment in Ubisoft, Tencent’s clearly aiming to get more influence over Western AAA franchises, especially with mobile and cloud gaming expansions.
Ubisoft’s Official Statement on Coté’s Departure
Ubisoft confirmed Coté’s exit with a rather heartfelt message. The company said:
“Following the organizational restructuring announced in March 2025, Marc-Alexis Côté has chosen to pursue a new path outside of Ubisoft. While we’re saddened to see him go, we’re confident our teams will carry forward the strong foundation he helped build.”
Ubisoft also thanked him for his leadership and creativity, saying he helped shape the Assassin’s Creed brand into what it is today — a true global phenomenon.
Vantage Studios Will Now Drive Assassin’s Creed’s Future
Vantage Studios, co-led by Christophe Derennes and Charlie Guillemot, son of Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, will now lead development for Ubisoft’s flagship franchises.
Currently, the studio’s focus is said to include:
- Developing Assassin’s Creed: Codename Hexe, rumored to be a darker, horror-inspired title.
- Expanding Assassin’s Creed Mirage with new story DLCs.
- Working on Assassin’s Creed Jade, the first mobile-based Assassin’s Creed game.
- Remastering or remaking older Assassin’s Creed titles for modern consoles.
The Cancelled Assassin’s Creed Game That Shocked Fans
Just a few weeks ago, reports suggested that Ubisoft cancelled a post–US Civil War-era Assassin’s Creed game. The title was supposed to feature a Black assassin protagonist fighting against the Ku Klux Klan in Reconstruction-era America.
However, after the backlash surrounding Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Black samurai protagonist, Yasuke, Ubisoft apparently decided not to move forward with another politically charged storyline. Some fans were upset, saying Ubisoft played it too safe, but others think it was a strategic move given the sensitive political climate in the U.S.
How Ubisoft’s New Structure Compares to Other Gaming Giants
| Publisher | Major Change | Key Focus | Strategic Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubisoft | Vantage Studios | Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Rainbow Six | Tencent funding & global integration |
| Sony | Haven Studios | Exclusive AAA titles | Boost creative freedom |
| Microsoft | Activision Blizzard merger | Cloud gaming, Game Pass | Global player reach |
Ubisoft’s shift is quite similar to Sony’s model, but with Tencent’s involvement, it’s a different game altogether. It’s not just about creative leadership anymore — it’s about scaling worldwide with shared development and deeper tech integration.
Pros and Cons of This Big Move
Pros:
- Stronger financial support from Tencent.
- Better global coordination for AAA games.
- Opens up more room for fresh leadership and new ideas.
Cons:
- Veteran talent like Coté leaving could affect morale.
- Risk of too much corporate control over creativity.
- Fans might be skeptical about Tencent’s influence.
What Might Be Next for Marc-Alexis Coté
So, what’s next for Coté? Nothing official yet. But insiders believe he might start something new — maybe an independent studio or join another major publisher. His experience with open-world and historical storytelling makes him a valuable creative leader anywhere he goes.
If that happens, it could actually bring some exciting competition to Ubisoft in the future.
What This Means for Assassin’s Creed Fans
For fans, this shift could mean faster releases, more connected universes, and maybe more mobile titles too. But, of course, with Coté leaving, some are worried that Assassin’s Creed might lose a bit of that old charm that made it special in the first place.
Still, with Vantage Studios leading and Tencent’s investment, Ubisoft is clearly planning something much bigger. Maybe not right now, but definitely soon.
FAQs
1. Who is Marc-Alexis Coté?
He’s a former Ubisoft executive who led the Assassin’s Creed franchise since 2022 and left the company in 2025.
2. Why did he leave Ubisoft?
He was offered a key role in Vantage Studios but declined it, as his own priorities didn’t align with the company’s new direction.
3. What is Vantage Studios?
It’s a new Tencent-backed Ubisoft division managing top franchises like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six.
4. What games is Ubisoft working on now?
Projects include Assassin’s Creed Codename Hexe, Jade, and DLCs for Mirage — plus possible remakes of older titles.
5. How will Tencent’s involvement affect Ubisoft?
Tencent brings massive funding and business reach, but fans hope the creative side of Ubisoft doesn’t take a backseat.
