Claude Guillemot, one of the founding figures behind the rise of French video game giant Ubisoft, has died following a plane crash in western France. He was 69.
The company confirmed his death on Saturday, expressing condolences to his family and loved ones.
“Ubisoft was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Claude Guillemot, co-founder of the group and chairman of Guillemot Corp, in an accident,” the company said in a statement.
According to French newspaper Ouest-France, Guillemot was piloting a twin-engine Cessna 421 aircraft that crashed Friday evening while approaching an airfield in La Baule, a popular resort town on France’s Atlantic coast. The town had been preparing to host an air show over the weekend.
Reports indicate that two people were on board the aircraft at the time of the crash. Both occupants died.
Claude Guillemot was one of five Guillemot brothers who founded Ubisoft in 1986. What began as a small mail-order software business evolved into one of the world’s largest and most influential video game publishers.
Over the decades, Ubisoft became known for globally successful franchises including Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six, and Watch Dogs.
While his brother Yves Guillemot became the public face of the company as its longtime chief executive, Claude largely worked behind the scenes, helping build the operational and business foundations that supported the family’s expanding entertainment empire.
In addition to his role in Ubisoft’s development, Claude served as chairman of Guillemot Corporation, the family’s hardware and gaming accessories business, which owns brands such as Thrustmaster and Hercules.
His contributions helped transform Ubisoft from a regional French company into a major global force in the gaming industry, employing thousands of people and reaching millions of players worldwide.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation by French authorities.
Claude Guillemot’s death marks the loss of one of the key architects of modern European gaming, whose work helped shape one of the industry’s most recognizable companies.