Game News

Ubisoft co-founder Claude Guillemot dies at 69 in a plane crash in western France

Claude Guillemot, who co-founded Ubisoft with his brothers in 1986, has died at 69 after a plane crash in western France. The Cessna 421 crashed in a field while approaching La Baule-Escoublac airfield on the evening of Friday 19 June, Canada's CTV News reported, carrying a Reuters story. Ubisoft announced his death on Saturday 20 June.

VGC said the crash left two people dead and involved an aircraft registered to Guillemot; it did not name the other victim. Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, also running the Reuters report, said he was chairman of Guillemot Corp. and worked largely behind the scenes at the publisher of Assassin's Creed. VGC described him as president and CEO of Guillemot Corporation, which makes PC, mobile and console accessories. The five brothers, Christian, Claude, Gérard, Michel and Yves, began in agricultural sales in Brittany; Claude started out selling CD audio media.

“Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.” — Ubisoft, via South China Morning Post

How each outlet framed it

• CTV News — the crash itself, with forensic technicians examining the wreckage.
• South China Morning Post — a short Reuters obituary focused on his behind-the-scenes role.
• VGC — the family history, including the “Ubi Soft” name chosen to suggest “ubiquitous” software.

Where the details differ: The Reuters outlets quoted Ubisoft as “deeply saddened to learn of the death of Claude Guillemot”; VGC, via Ouest-France, gave “it was with deep sadness that we learned of the death of Claude Guillemot”. Only VGC reported a second victim. VGC called him CEO of Guillemot Corporation, the SCMP its chairman.