Ubisoft Co-Founder Claude Guillemot Passes Away in Plane Crash at Age 69
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Ubisoft co-founder Claude Guillemot has died at age 69 following a tragic plane crash in France. Industry figures and the publisher have shared statements honoring his decades-long impact on gaming.
Claude Guillemot, one of the five brothers who helped found publishing giant Ubisoft in 1986, died in a plane crash on June 19. According to reporting from French news network ICI and initial details shared by Bloomberg, Guillemot was one of two passengers on a twin-engine propeller plane that went down while attempting to land at an airport in the French town of La Baule. He was 69 years old. Ubisoft confirmed the news in a statement to Bloomberg, expressing deep sadness and offering condolences to his family and loved ones.
Alongside his brothers Christian, Gerard, Michel, and Yves, Claude Guillemot established a company that would eventually grow into one of the most prolific forces in the games industry. While Yves Guillemot remains at the helm of Ubisoft as CEO, Claude served as the chairman of Guillemot Corporation, the family's separate hardware and tech venture encompassing brands like Thrustmaster and Hercules Computer Technology. Together, the brothers shaped decades of mainstream gaming through massive franchises including Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Rayman.
The tragedy arrives during a turbulent period for Ubisoft as a whole, following recent internal restructuring, studio closures, and ongoing workforce challenges. While public tributes have begun pouring in from across the industry, including statements from figures like Geoff Keighley, the broader gaming community is pausing to reflect on the immense legacy left by the Guillemot family as they navigate this sudden loss. Original reporting of this story can be found on Polygon.
Tags: Ubisoft, Industry News, Assassin's Creed, Business, History
Original article: Polygon