Ubisoft founder, creator of Assassin’s Creed, dies in plane crash in France
▼ Summary
– Claude Guillemot, co-founder of Ubisoft, was killed in a plane crash in western France on Friday evening.
– The twin-motor Cessna 421 crashed near La Baule airport while approaching for landing, killing Guillemot and a flight instructor.
– Both Guillemot and the instructor were licensed and experienced pilots, according to the mayor.
– Ubisoft confirmed Guillemot’s death but did not provide additional comments.
– Guillemot co-founded Ubisoft in 1986 with four brothers, known for franchises like Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, and Rayman.
A tragic aviation accident has claimed the life of one of the co-founders of Ubisoft, the French video game giant behind the iconic Assassin’s Creed franchise. Claude Guillemot, 68, was killed on Friday evening when his Cessna 421 crashed while attempting to land at the La Baule-Escoublac airfield on France’s Atlantic coast.
Authorities confirmed that Guillemot, a licensed pilot, was flying the twin-engine aircraft alongside a flight instructor. Both men died in the crash. Mayor Franck Louvrier of La Baule stated that the instructor was also an experienced pilot. The plane went down in a field just short of the runway, according to an airport official who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity. An official investigation into the cause of the crash is now underway.
Ubisoft issued a statement confirming Guillemot’s death but declined to offer further details. The company, which he helped establish alongside his four brothers in 1986, has become a titan of the interactive entertainment industry. Beyond the blockbuster Assassin’s Creed series, Ubisoft’s portfolio includes household names like Just Dance and the Rayman and Tom Clancy game franchises.
The loss reverberates through the gaming world, marking the end of an era for the family-run company that grew from a small French publisher into a global powerhouse. Guillemot’s vision was instrumental in shaping the modern gaming landscape, and his death leaves a significant void in the industry he helped build.
(Source: Abcnews.com)