Just another day at Ubisoft HQ.
Ubisoft has fired the man responsible for the first two Assassin’s Creed blockbusters. As reported by Game Informer, the publisher has confirmed that Ubisoft Montreal creative director Patrice Désilets is no longer with the company. This isn’t the first time the two have parted ways. Désilets resigned in 2010 to take up a position with THQ Montreal. Ironically, THQ was then forced to sell the business to Ubisoft, bringing Désilets back into the fold.
According to an Ubisoft statement, the creative director “left” his position after “good faith discussions between Patrice and Ubisoft aimed at aligning Patrice’s and the studio’s visions” proved “inconclusive”.
Désilets’ account of the process, published by Polygon, differed somewhat from the official line. “I was notified of this termination in person, handed a termination notice and was unceremoniously walked out of the building by two guards without being able to say goodbye to my team or collect my personal belongings.” Désilets vowed to “fight for my rights, for my team and for my game”. As noted by Kotaku, Désilets later confirmed that producer Jean-Francois Boivin has also been shown the door.
At the time of its sale to Ubisoft, the studio was said to be working on unannounced properties Underdog and 1666. The future of these projects is now in question.
