Ubisoft Parts Ways with Assassin’s Creed Veteran Following Office Mandate Controversy: “This Was Not My Decision”

Ubisoft recently announced a significant overhaul, which includes a mandate for employees to return to the office five days a week. This decision has drawn criticism from within the company, notably from David Michaud-Cromp, a veteran developer with 13 years of experience on the Assassin’s Creed series, who has since been let go.

In the restructuring announcement, Ubisoft stated its intention to have all teams back on-site five days a week, supplemented by a limited number of work-from-home days. The company emphasized that “in-person collaboration is a key enabler of collective efficiency, creativity, and success in a persistently more selective AAA market.”

Michaud-Cromp expressed his concerns in a LinkedIn post, questioning the rationale behind the return to the office. He suggested that the push for in-person work was less about collaboration and more about controlling the workforce. He shared a video that argues such mandates often serve as a means for companies to streamline their staff by pushing out those who prefer remote work, adding, “Spoiler alert: it’s not about efficiency or collaboration.”

Shortly after his comments, Michaud-Cromp received a “three-day unpaid disciplinary suspension.” Ultimately, he announced his termination in another LinkedIn post, stating, “Today, I was terminated by Ubisoft, effective immediately. This was not my decision. I won’t be discussing internal details or circumstances.”

Michaud-Cromp joined Ubisoft in 2012, initially contributing as a level designer on Assassin’s Creed Unity. He continued to work on level design for Syndicate, Origins, Valhalla, and Watch Dogs Legion. Most recently, he served as the team lead for level design on Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

In response to the situation, Ubisoft stated, “Sharing feedback or opinions respectfully does not lead to a dismissal. We have a clear Code of Conduct that outlines our shared expectations for working together safely and respectfully, which employees review and sign each year. When that is breached, our established procedures apply, including an escalation of measures depending on the nature, severity, and repetition of the breach.”

Accompanying the restructuring news, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot mentioned plans to “accelerate our cost reduction initiatives to rightsize the organization,” which is likely to result in layoffs. The company has already proposed “voluntary” layoffs that could affect up to 200 employees at its Paris headquarters, leading to strong pushback from French unions.

While other developers are exploring AI as a development tool, Ubisoft is focusing on “player-facing generative AI.”