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Rabat — Claude Guillemot, one of the co-founders of French video game giant Ubisoft, has died in a plane crash in western France, at 69.
Ubisoft confirmed the news on Saturday, saying it was “deeply saddened” by the death of Guillemot, who helped build the company into one of the world’s largest video game publishers. The company said its thoughts were with his family and loved ones and added that it would not make any further comments at this time.
According to French media reports cited by Bloomberg, Guillemot died on June 19 when a twin-engine Cessna 421 crashed near the coastal resort town of La Baule. He was one of two people on board the aircraft, and both were killed. Authorities have opened an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Reports said the aircraft went down near La Baule aerodrome as the area was preparing to host an aviation event and air show. Guillemot, a member of a local flying club and an aviation enthusiast, had reportedly been traveling to the gathering when the accident occurred.
While his brother Yves Guillemot became the public face of Ubisoft as chief executive, Claude played a key role behind the scenes. He served as executive vice president of operations and later chaired Guillemot Corporation, the family’s holding and hardware business, which oversees brands including Hercules and Thrustmaster. He remained an important shareholder in Ubisoft throughout the company’s growth.
Claude was one of five Guillemot brothers who founded Ubisoft in 1986 in Brittany, France. What began as a software distribution business evolved into a global gaming company with studios around the world and some of the industry’s best-known franchises.
Ubisoft is behind titles including Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Rayman, Prince of Persia, Just Dance, Rainbow Six, Watch Dogs, and Rabbids. The company expanded internationally during the 1990s and became one of the most influential publishers in the video game industry.
Guillemot’s death comes at a difficult period for Ubisoft as the company continues restructuring efforts and faces broader challenges across the gaming sector. Even so, his legacy remains closely tied to the rise of a company that helped shape modern video gaming and reached millions of players around the world.
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