UPDATE: Patrice Desilets, creative designer of Assassin's Creed I and II, says he was terminated by Ubisoft in a statement to Kotaku:
"Contrary to any statements made earlier today, this morning I was terminated by Ubisoft. 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," Desilets says. "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."
Apparently the reunion celebration was a bit premature. Ubisoft has a different take on the matter:
"The acquisition of THQ Montréal in January allowed Ubisoft to welcome 170 experienced developers, including Patrice Désilets, to our existing and renowned workforce," an Ubisoft representative told us. "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."
Desilets left Ubisoft in 2010 and joined THQ Montreal in 2011, despite an unsuccessful lawsuit against his employment there. Ubisoft scooped up his studio and two of his unannounced projects, codenamed 1666 and Underdog, when THQ sank earlier this year.
We asked about the future of those projects, but the Ubisoft representative responded with only the statement above.
