Former Assassin's Creed director terminated 'without merit' from Ubisoft

Ubisoft has parted ways with Patrice Désilets, though this time Désilets says he was terminated. "without merit."

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Patrice Désilets, the former Assassin's Creed director who left Ubisoft three years ago and recently rejoined as part of Ubisoft's acquisition of THQ Montreal, is now out of the company for a second time. Ubisoft confirmed the departure, but Désilets himself says that he was terminated.

"The acquisition of THQ Montréal in January allowed Ubisoft to welcome 170 experienced developers, including Patrice Désilets, to our existing and renowned workforce," a Ubisoft representative told Kotaku. "Unfortunately, since the acquisition, the good faith discussions between Patrice and Ubisoft aimed at aligning Patrice's and the studio's visions have been inconclusive. As a result, Patrice has left the studio. Our priorities remain with the teams already hard at work on projects in development. They are at the root of Ubisoft Montréal's past and future successes."

That all sounds very civil and nice, but Désilets subsequently offered his own statement that seems significantly less amicable.

"Contrary to any statements made earlier today, this morning I was terminated by Ubisoft," he said. "I was notified of this termination in person, handed a termination notice and was unceremoniously escorted out of the building by two guards without being able to say goodbye to my team or collect my personal belongings. This was not my decision. Ubisoft's actions are baseless and without merit. I intend to fight Ubisoft vigorously for my rights, for my team and for my game."

When Désilets left Ubisoft, he went to work for THQ and was reportedly leading the unannounced project 1666. When THQ was subsequently auctioned off in pieces, Ubisoft picked up the Montreal studio and Désilets along with it.

According to Kotaku, 1666 had been suspended, which could be Ubisoft's rationale for the termination. No word on other members of his team. We have reached out to Ubisoft for further comment and clarification and will update if we get a response.

Editor-In-Chief
From The Chatty
  • reply
    May 7, 2013 11:45 AM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, Former Assassin's Creed director 'terminated without merit' from Ubisoft.

    Ubisoft has parted ways with Patrice Désilets, though this time Désilets says he was terminated. "without merit."

    • reply
      May 7, 2013 12:06 PM

      Wow, dick move. I was hoping he would get re-involved with Ass Creed.

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      May 7, 2013 12:38 PM

      There was a drop in the quality of the Assassin's Creed games after Patrice Désilets left (after Brotherhood), although I've still enjoyed them all.

      Jade Raymond was the public face of AC1 (and her work on the series is way under-appreciated), but Patrice Désilets brought the soul to that game (and its next two installments) IMO.

      When he says "I intend to fight Ubisoft vigorously for my rights, for my team and for my game." is he referring to the 1666 game, or AC?

    • reply
      May 7, 2013 12:39 PM

      AC3 was a pile of shit. Deserved.

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        May 7, 2013 12:47 PM

        [deleted]

      • reply
        May 7, 2013 12:49 PM

        he had nothing to do with ac3

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        May 7, 2013 12:52 PM

        worst post ive seen today

        • reply
          May 7, 2013 1:04 PM

          You should check my post history I have made way worse this morning

      • reply
        May 7, 2013 12:56 PM

        Yea, RIP Clint Hocking

      • reply
        May 7, 2013 1:04 PM

        And the award for most well informed poster 2013 goes to NOT YOU.

        • reply
          May 7, 2013 1:05 PM

          Calm down nerds so I didn't read the article everyone makes mistakes.

          • reply
            May 7, 2013 1:37 PM

            It still doesn't mean that front pagers such as yourself shouldn't pay for them with a good old shackpile. You typed hard to earn it.

            • reply
              May 7, 2013 1:40 PM

              [deleted]

              • reply
                May 7, 2013 2:42 PM

                Well, technically anyone who comments on the front page is a front-pager, right? Even if he does have more posts than Dr_Cube, lol.

                I wish that insult would just die, though. There's nothing wrong with reading the articles, and not everyone has the time or inclination to sink dozens of posts into the chatty every day. This petty elitism is just dumb.

                • reply
                  May 7, 2013 2:49 PM

                  Next thing you're gonna say a guy who sucks a little dick once in awhile is a full blown queen.

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                  May 7, 2013 5:32 PM

                  hey why don't you just go back to the front page if you don't like it, front pager

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                  May 7, 2013 6:29 PM

                  I'm glad you explained this. Not knowing what it meant, I guess that makes me one by default.

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              May 7, 2013 8:06 PM

              Yes I am clearly a front pager detective.

          • reply
            May 7, 2013 8:26 PM

            stfu and stick to the front page, front pager

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        May 7, 2013 2:42 PM

        What's interesting here is that he had pedigree in the series finest hour(s) and may have been about to be involved in the follow up to Black Flag by way of it being co optioned as an AC game. Some of us are intrigued to see why he couldn't / wouldn't agree to to that (ownership of ip? sandbox type? Etc). Whatever, it seems a shame for Ubi they couldn't convince such talent to stay and ended his employment this way. :-(

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          May 7, 2013 5:27 PM

          Maybe he's just a dick to work with?

          Doesn't matter how talented you are, if you're hard to deal with, it limits your future.

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          May 8, 2013 1:41 AM

          I'd argue Brotherhood was its finest hour for gameplay and scope (though the revenge tale of 2 had a slight edge), including awesome multiplayer by Ubi Annecy. I'm pretty sure he'd left by then, even if it admittedly built on 2 which he can certainly take a fair amount of credit for.

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