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Claude Guillemot, the co-founder of Ubisoft, has died at 69. The French video game executive was piloting a twin-engine Cessna 421. It went down near La Baule, a beach resort on the western coast of France. Ubisoft confirmed his death and extended sympathy to his family through a statement sent to French media outlets.
Guillemot owned a home near La Baule. He was flying with an instructor at the time of the crash, traveling from Rennes in the northwest of France. The cause of the accident remains unclear.
What happened near Guillemot’s home in La Baule
The crash occurred close to a coastline Guillemot knew well. He owned a home in the area and made the trip regularly. The Cessna 421 went down with an instructor also on board. French authorities have not yet confirmed what brought the aircraft down. Guillemot was 69 years old.
The company Guillemot built with his brothers
Claude Guillemot co-founded Ubisoft in the mid-1980s alongside his brothers. Their focus shifted from selling farm equipment to computers and eventually into video games. What began as a modest French company grew into one of the most recognized names in the global gaming industry. Ubisoft grew to employ tens of thousands of people across dozens of studios worldwide.
Under the Guillemot family’s leadership, Ubisoft became the studio behind some of the most widely played franchises in the world. Assassin’s Creed grew into a global phenomenon spanning more than a decade of entries. Far Cry and Watch Dogs became signature experiences for millions of players. Additionally, the company developed games tied to the animated series South Park, adding another chapter to its catalog.
Guillemot’s final role at Ubisoft
Guillemot stepped back from Ubisoft last year, handing control to his son Valentin and naming him the new chief executive. The handoff marked a natural leadership transition. It also signaled confidence in the next generation of the Guillemot family. He kept a role shaping the company’s direction as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
For four decades, Guillemot had built and guided Ubisoft through its many chapters. He and his brothers started the company from a small French operation. It grew into a publicly traded studio with thousands of employees worldwide. His death leaves a significant gap in one of gaming’s most important founding stories.
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