Two high-profile departures recently happened in the game industry. The first is Marc-Alexis Côté, who was the head of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Côté has spent two decades with Ubisoft, climbing from Lead Level Designer to Executive Producer of Assassin’s Creed.
Côté’s departure was linked to the start of operations at Vantage Studios, the Tencent-backed Ubisoft subsidiary headed by co-CEOs Charlie Guillemot and Christophe Derennes.
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According to a memo sent to staff, which was shared by IGN, Côté was offered a role within the new subsidiary, but he refused. The memo said Côté had “his own expectations and priorities related to Vantage Studios’ creation and future”.
A statement provided to Insider Gaming by a Ubisoft spokesperson said Côté chose to “pursue a new path elsewhere outside of Ubisoft”, following the March 2025 restructuring.
“While we are saddened to see him go, we’re confident that our talented teams will carry forward the strong foundation he helped build. We are deeply grateful for the impact Marc-Alexis 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 endeavors.”
Banjo-Kazooie co-creator left with 36 years of experience
Gregg Mayles, who has been with Rare for over three decades, has announced his resignation from the company. The studio was a big deal in the 1990s, creating hits like Battletoads, Goldeneye, and Banjo-Kazooie. The studio’s success faced a downward trajectory after it was acquired by Microsoft in 2002.
“Today was my last day at @RareLtd,” Mayles announced on X. “Thanks to everyone who played and enjoyed any of the games I helped create while I was there. Also thanks to all the people that worked on the games alongside me. It seemed fitting that I should say farewell with one final rhyme!”
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He announced his departure with a poem that captured his experience in the company and the many games they had made. His partnership with Rare ended on October 14, 2025. Rare commented on the post with a blue and yellow love emoji.
Mayles’ final game at Rare would have been Everwild. Unfortunately, the game was canceled. The future of Rare and another Banjo-Kazooie game remains uncertain.
What do you think about the two recent high-profile departures, and do you think it would affect the franchises they have worked on? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.
