Claude Guillemot, Assassin's Creed maker Ubisoft's co-founder, dies in plane crash in France

Claude Guillemot, who co-founded Ubisoft with his brothers, died in a plane crash near La Baule in western France. Ubisoft said it was deeply saddened as the death marks the loss of a key figure behind the publisher's rise.

In Short

• Ubisoft co-founder Claude Guillemot dies
• He was involved in a plane crash in France
• Guillemot helped build Ubisoft

Claude Guillemot, the co-founder of Ubisoft, the company behind blockbuster games like Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Prince of Persia, has died in a plane crash in France. He was 69. According to reports, Guillemot died on Friday when a small private aircraft crashed near the seaside resort town of La Baule in western France. He was one of two people on board the plane, and both were killed in the accident.

French news network ICI reported that the aircraft was a Cessna 421, a twin-engine propeller plane with eight seats. The plane crashed shortly before 6 p.m. while approaching La Baule's airport. Mayor Franck Louvrier said witnesses saw the aircraft "bank and crash" moments before the accident.

Ubisoft confirmed the news in a statement on Saturday.

"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," a company spokesperson said. "Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time."

The man who helped build a gaming giant

Claude Guillemot co-founded Ubisoft in 1986 along with his four brothers. What began as a small French gaming company went on to become one of the world's biggest video game publishers. Over the years, Ubisoft created and published some of gaming's most popular franchises, including Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, Prince of Persia, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six, and Rayman. The company is known for producing large open-world games that have attracted millions of players across the globe.

The Guillemot family still controls Ubisoft, and Claude's brother, Yves Guillemot, continues to serve as the company's CEO.

Assassin's Creed became a global phenomenon

Among Ubisoft's many successes, Assassin's Creed stands out as its biggest franchise. First released in 2007, the historical action-adventure series follows two warring secret societies across different periods of history. The franchise has grown into a cultural phenomenon, attracting more than 200 million players worldwide.

Its latest major release, Assassin's Creed Shadows, launched in 2025, takes players to 16th-century Japan, where they battle powerful enemies while navigating political intrigue.

The popularity of the series has also expanded beyond gaming. Ubisoft's film and television division is currently working on adaptations of both Assassin's Creed and Far Cry.

Apart from Ubisoft, Claude Guillemot also served as chairman of Guillemot Corporation, a separate company that manufactures gaming accessories and audio equipment.

- Ends