1666: Amsterdam legal battle ends

Ubisoft and its former employee Patrice Désilets have come to an agreement over the rights to 1666: Amsterdam. Désilets will withdraw his legal action against Ubisoft from the Superior Court of Québec and Ubisoft will grant him control over the project.

"I'm glad Ubisoft and I were able to come to an agreement that will allow me to obtain the rights to project 1666 Amsterdam," said Désilets in a statement.

"I will now devote myself entirely to the development of Ancestors: the Humankind Odyssey, my next game with Panache Digital Games. This is what matters most to me today: making the best games and showing the world the creative talent of Quebecers. I also wish every success to the Ubisoft teams."

Désilets left Ubisoft in 2010 and in 2011 joined THQ's Montreal studio. Unluckily for Désilets when THQ closed it was Ubisoft who snapped up THQ Montreal at auction. There Désilets worked on 1666: Amsterdam before being fired in May 2013. In June 2013 he announced he would sue Ubisoft for the rights to 1666: Amsterdam. Now almost three years later a resolution has been reached.

"Putting aside our past differences, Patrice and I are above all interested in the creation of videogames and the evolution of this medium of entertainment," said Yannis Mallat, CEO of Ubisoft Montréal and Toronto.

"This agreement is good news for everyone. Ubisoft's creative teams are currently working on innovative projects that will mark our industry for years to come. This is precisely where we want to focus our energy, on our teams, to continue what we have been building in Quebec for nearly 20 years. As we have always said, Patrice is a talented designer and we wish him all the best in the development of his future endeavours."

In November 2014 Désilets launched Panache Digital Games and in April 2015 the studio announced its first title, Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey.