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Assassin’s Creed Creator Sues Ubisoft for $400K, Rights to 1666: Amsterdam

Ravi Sinha — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 09:11:46 +0000

After apparently being unceremoniously terminated by Ubisoft after it acquired THQ Montreal, which was working on 1666: Amster, former creative director Patrice Desilets is suing the publisher for $400,000 in damages and the rights for the game – just as he threatened to do when back in May when he was fired.

Apparently, Desilets and Ubisoft Montreal CEO Yannis Mallet discussed the development of 1666, and also the former’s prior arrangement with THQ. Needless to say, it was the beginning of many disagreements with the developer.

It became so bad that company CEO Yves Guillemot said to that THQ had given Desilets “too much creative freedom” because they were desperate (and given the company’s eventual collapse, that may not be far from the truth). There were no changes to the previous arrangement despite many negoatiations and Ubisoft eventually fired Desilets on May 7th. It then suspended development on 1666 indefinitely.

In an official statement, a Ubisoft representative said, “As stated before, the acquisition of THQ Montréal in January allowed Ubisoft to welcome 170 experienced developers to our existing and renowned workforce.

“Unfortunately, the discussions between Patrice Désilets and Ubisoft aimed at aligning Patrice’s and the studio’s visions were inconclusive. We received Patrice’s legal request and will address it in court. We will make no further comment at this point.”

Stick with us as the drama develops further.

Source: La Presse via Polygon

Patrice Désilets’s 1666 Development Suspended

Ravi Sinha — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:29:21 +0000

When Patrice Désilets returned to Ubisoft upon the purchase of THQ Montreal, he couldn’t have imagined the veritable shit storm that would await upon arriving home. Désilets was terminated recently, leaving the company a second time, and the firing was apparently less than just (or courteous, since he was apparently not allowed to take his personal items).

In between the face Désilets’s projects from THQ Montreal, like 1666, were thrown into limbo. Today, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot stated that 1666’s development has been suspended for an indefinite period.

“After more than two months of discussion with [Désilets], we couldn’t align our vision both on project development and team management, so consequently our collaboration has ended. We have suspended development on 1666 for an undisclosed time.

Désilets, however, finds Ubisoft’s actions to be “baseless and without merit” and will fight for “my rights, for my team and for my game”. Stay tuned for more details.

Former Assassin’s Creed Producer Also Fired From Ubisoft

Ravi Sinha — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:20:53 +0000

While Patrice Desilets, who created the first Assassin’s Creed, returned to Ubisoft after it purchased THQ Montreal, it wasn’t to be as the company fired him soon after. Now, Desilets has stated via Twitter post that he’s “Thinking of my good friend and producer [Jean-François Boivin] who also got fired yesterday. I’m sharing your support with him.”

Jean-François Boivinwas worked as production manager and associate producer on Assassin’s Creed 1, 2 and Brotherhood before joining Desilets at THQ Montreal to work on 1666. The title reportedly went over to Ubisoft after it picked up THQ Montreal, but with both Desilets and Boivinwas gone, it’s unsure whether it is still in production.

Regardless, Desilets isn’t happy, calling his firing “baseless and without merit”. He intends to fight against Ubisoft for the termination and that can’t lead to anything but more ugliness (Activision/Respawn, any one?). Hopefully the issue will be resolved soon for all parties involved.

Assassin’s Creed Creator Returns to Ubisoft, Unannounced Projects Follow

Ravi Sinha — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:11:38 +0000

Patrice Desilets, best known for creating the Assassin’s Creed franchise before he left to join THQ in 2010, has returned to Ubisoft. He was working at THQ Montreal when the publisher went bankrupt and the studio was hence purchased by Ubisoft during the January auction.

A spokesperson for the company stated to Polygon that, “We are very pleased to welcome Patrice to Ubisoft again and anticipate that this renewed partnership will produce new ideas and high-quality titles for Ubisoft’s customers.

“In the coming weeks we’ll be looking at how to offer an organizational structure that provides continuity for the creative teams involved. Unannounced projects from THQ Montreal are included as part of the acquisition.”

Currently, there are two projects under construction: 1666, with Desilets leading, and Underdog. Both are working titles so expect the final games to be radically different. As for whether Desilets will return to the franchise that has made so much money for Ubisoft, we’ll have to wait and see.