Claude Guillemot, who built Ubisoft into a gaming empire, dies at 69 in plane crash | Fortune

Claude Guillemot, co-founder of Ubisoft, died when a twin-motor Cessna 421 crashed near La Baule airport on the Atlantic coast Friday evening, according to Mayor Franck Louvrier. The aircraft carried Guillemot and a flight instructor, both licensed and experienced pilots, and the instructor was killed in the crash. An investigation into the incident is underway, with Ubisoft confirming the founder's death but offering no further comment. The plane went down in a field just before the expected landing at La Baule-Escoublac Airport, an airport official told the Associated Press. The crash occurred as the plane was about to land, authorities said. Ubisoft confirmed Guillemot's death but did not comment further on the circumstances, as investigators examine what happened.

Claude Guillemot and his four brothers founded Ubisoft in 1986, turning the company into a global gaming empire known for Assassin's Creed, Just Dance, Rayman, and Tom Clancy franchises. His death removes a pivotal figure in the industry, with Ubisoft acknowledging the loss. Investigators have not yet released a cause, and the incident remains under review. Guillemot's leadership helped Ubisoft expand across PC, console, and mobile platforms, and his passing prompts a broader discussion about succession planning in major game studios.