Ubisoft Co-Founder Claude Guillemot Dead at 69 After Plane Crash in France
Claude Guillemot, one of the five co-founders behind Assassin’s Creed publisher Ubisoft, has died in a plane crash. The incident occurred in La Baule, a commune in Western France, on Friday. According to French outlet Ouest-France (via Bloomberg), Guillemot, 69, was one of two passengers aboard a twin-engine Cessna 421. He was reportedly the aircraft's owner and pilot, accompanied by a flight instructor. Both individuals were killed in the crash.
Additional details about the crash remain undisclosed. Ubisoft confirmed Guillemot's passing in a statement sent to Bloomberg. A Ubisoft spokesperson said, “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. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. No further statements will be made at this time.”
The Guillemot Brothers and the Birth of Ubisoft
Guillemot and his four brothers – Christian, Gérard, Michel, and Yves Guillemot – formed Ubisoft in 1986. Starting with games like Zombi and B.A.T., the brothers transformed the company into one of the world's largest video game publishers. Today, Ubisoft oversees iconic intellectual properties such as Rayman, Assassin’s Creed, Watch Dogs, the Tom Clancy video games, Prince of Persia, Beyond Good & Evil, and more.
On its “About Us” page, Ubisoft states, “Ubisoft’s story begins with a family. 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 holds the position of Ubisoft CEO. The legacy of the Guillemot family continues to shape the company they founded decades ago.
