Ubisoft Co-Founder Claude Guillemot Dies in Plane Crash

Claude Guillemot, 69, one of the five brothers who co-founded the French video game giant Ubisoft — the company behind blockbuster franchises including Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry — died in a plane crash on Friday, June 19, 2026, near La Baule-Escoublac on France’s Atlantic coast. The crash also killed Marc Guillet, a flight instructor. French aviation authorities have opened an investigation into the cause of the accident.

The Crash

The Cessna 421 twin-engine propeller aircraft, carrying eight seats, crashed in a field just before landing at La Baule-Escoublac Airport in the late afternoon, shortly before 6 p.m. local time. The plane had departed from Rennes, Brittany, and Guillemot was planning to attend an air show in La Baule that weekend.

According to VRT NWS, the aircraft caught fire upon impact, with flames spreading to surrounding vegetation. Approximately 60 firefighters were mobilized to the scene. “The aircraft was on fire with ongoing propagation to the surrounding vegetation,” the Loire-Atlantique Fire and Rescue Service reported.

Franck Louvrier, the mayor of La Baule, provided a witness account of the crash. “It was a Cessna 421, a twin-engine propeller, with eight seats,” Louvrier said. “The plane was on approach for the landing phase, when, according to witnesses, it made a turn and crashed.”

Both Guillemot and Guillet were described as experienced pilots. Guillet, a former professional pilot with extensive flight hours, was also an amateur aircraft builder. “Appreciated and recognized by all, he leaves behind a contagious smile and a deep joy whenever he was aboard an airplane,” Louvrier said in tribute.

Ubisoft’s Statement

Ubisoft confirmed Guillemot’s death in an official statement on Saturday, June 20. As reported by PC Gamer, the company said: “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. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. No further statements will be made at this time.”

A private tribute was held for the two victims in La Baule on Saturday.

A Legacy in Gaming

Claude Guillemot was one of five brothers — Christian, Claude, Gérard, Michel, and Yves — who founded Ubisoft on March 28, 1986, in Brittany, France. The family had established a support business for farmers before the brothers entered the video game industry, starting with a mail-order computer business called Guillemot Informatique in 1984.

The name “Ubi Soft” was chosen to represent “ubiquitous” software. The company’s first game, Zombi (1986), sold 5,000 copies, but their breakthrough came with Rayman in 1995. Ubisoft went public in 1996, raising over $80 million, and expanded globally with studios in Shanghai, Montreal, and Milan.

Today, Ubisoft is known for some of the most iconic franchises in gaming history: Assassin’s Creed (launched 2007), Far Cry, the Tom Clancy’s series (Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, Splinter Cell), Just Dance, Prince of Persia, Watch Dogs, and the Rabbids franchise.

Guillemot Corporation

Beyond Ubisoft, Claude Guillemot served as Chairman and CEO of Guillemot Corporation since 1997. The company owns the Hercules digital audio brand and the Thrustmaster gaming accessories label, which produces joysticks, racing wheels, and other peripherals for PC, mobile, and consoles. The Guillemot family maintains its controlling stake in Ubisoft — approximately 14% of shares — through Guillemot Corporation.

A Challenging Time for Ubisoft

Claude Guillemot’s death comes at a particularly difficult period for Ubisoft. The company has faced significant financial headwinds in recent years, with its stock price falling from $23 per share in 2018 to approximately $1.12 per share by 2026, representing a market capitalization of about $741 million. Ubisoft laid off 700 employees in 2025, closed studios, and has undergone a major restructuring process since 2023.

While Claude was not the CEO — his brother Yves Guillemot holds that role — his death represents a profound personal loss for the family-controlled company and reduces the founding generation of brothers from five to four.

Investigation Underway

French authorities are conducting an investigation into the cause of the crash and will perform autopsies. The cause remains unknown at this time. The crash occurred in the same region as the 2023 accident that killed journalist Gérard Leclerc near Lavau-sur-Loire, highlighting ongoing concerns about general aviation safety in the area.

What’s Next

Questions remain about leadership succession at Guillemot Corporation, where Claude’s death creates a vacancy at the helm. It is also unclear whether the tragedy will have any impact on Ubisoft’s ongoing restructuring or strategic direction. The Guillemot family has maintained tight control over Ubisoft since its founding, and the loss of one of its five founding brothers marks the end of an era for one of gaming’s most influential dynasties.