Ubisoft's co-founder Claude Guillemot dies in plane crash

Claude Guillemot, co-founder of the French video game publisher Ubisoft, has died in a plane crash in western France, the company confirmed on Saturday.

Guillemot, 69, died on Friday when a twin-engine Cessna 421 aircraft crashed in La Baule, a seaside resort on France's Atlantic coast, according to local media reports. Two people were on board the aircraft, and both were killed in the incident. Authorities have not yet released further details about the cause of the crash.

In a brief statement, Ubisoft said it was "deeply saddened" by the death of its co-founder, adding that he also served as chairman of the family's hardware business, Guillemot Corporation. "Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. No further statements will be made at this time," the company said.

Guillemot co-founded Ubisoft in 1986 alongside his brothers, helping turn what began as a small mail-order software business into one of the world's largest video game publishers. While his brother Yves Guillemot became the public face of the company as long-time chief executive, Claude Guillemot focused more on operations and the family's broader business interests.

Over the decades, he played a key behind-the-scenes role in building the Guillemot family's entertainment and hardware ventures into a major presence in the global gaming industry.