Claude Guillemot, one of five co-founders behind Assassin’s Creed publisher Ubisoft, has died in a plane crash.
Guillemot, 69, was one of two passengers aboard a twin-engine plane known as a Cessna 421 when it crashed in La Baule, a commune in Western France, Friday, according to French outlet Ouest-France (via Bloomberg). He was reportedly the aircraft’s owner and pilot and was accompanied by a flight instructor. Both were killed in the crash.
Additional details related to the crash have yet to be revealed. Ubisoft confirmed Guillemot’s passing in a statement sent to Bloomberg.
“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,” a Ubisoft spokesperson said. “Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. No further statements will be made at this time.”
Guillemot and his four brothers – Christian, Gérard, Michel, and Yves Guillemot – formed Ubisoft in 1986. Beginning with games like Zombi and B.A.T., the brothers eventually turned the company into one of the biggest video game publishers in the world. It currently oversees IP like Rayman, Assassin’s Creed, Watch Dogs, the Tom Clancy video games, Prince of Persia, Beyond Good & Evil, and more.
“Ubisoft’s story begins with a family,” a short description on its “About Us” page says. “The five Guillemot brothers, who saw an opportunity in the growing software development business, founded Ubisoft in 1986 to create and distribute video games around the world. Starting from its first releases like Zombi for the home computer, to the hit 90s platformer Rayman, Ubisoft’s early creative spirit paved the way for its future.”
Claude Guillemot was CEO and chairman of the Guillemot Corporation, which designs and manufactures interactive entertainment hardware and accessories. His brother, Yves, currently sits as Ubisoft CEO.
Nathan Laine/Bloomberg via Getty Images.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
