Ubisoft Co-Founder Claude Guillemot Killed In Plane Crash In Western France

Claude Guillemot, a co-founder of Ubisoft and chairman of Guillemot Corp., died in a plane crash in France on Friday evening, according to Ubisoft and French media.

Business Insider reported that a Cessna plane carrying Guillemot and another passenger crashed in a field on Friday evening ahead of its intended destination in western France, and Deadline placed the crash near the aerodrome of the beach resort of La Baule in Western France where Guillemot had a vacation home.

ABC News

Deadline said the Cessna 421 twin engine plane Guillemot was piloting crashed on Friday evening and that his instructor was reported to have died as well.

Ubisoft’s statement to Bloomberg, as quoted by Business Insider, said: "Ubisoft was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Claude Guillemot, cofounder of the group and chairman of Guillemot Corp., in an accident."

Ubisoft also confirmed the death to FOX Business, where the company said it was "deeply saddened to learn of the death of Claude Guillemot, co-founder of the Group and President of Guillemot Corporation, in an accident."

Fox Business said Guillemot, 69, was one of two people aboard a twin-engine Cessna 421 plane and that both died in the wreck, citing a report from local newspaper Ouest-France.

ABC7 Chicago quoted Mayor Franck Louvrier as saying the twin-motor Cessna 421 carrying Claude Guillemot and a flight instructor crashed Friday evening near La Baule airport on the Atlantic coast, and that both people were killed.

ABC7 Chicago

NBC News said authorities reported that a Cessna plane carrying Guillemot and one other person crashed Friday evening in a field just before it was supposed to land at La Baule Airport on the Atlantic coast.

TechCrunch said Guillemot died Friday at the age of 69 and that he was one of two people aboard the plane, both of whom died.

In its statement to FOX Business, Ubisoft said: "Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time," and added that no further statements would be released at this time.

Deadline said Guillemot co-founded Ubisoft alongside his four brothers in 1986 in their hometown of Carentoir in Brittany, and it described the company as headed by CEO Yves Guillemot.

“A cofounder of the video game giant Ubisoft, the publisher behind "Assassin's Creed" and "Just Dance," has died at 69”

Business Insider

Deadline also said Guillemot handed the day-to-day running of Guillemot Corporation to his son Valentin Guillemot in July 2025, appointing him CEO, while Claude remained attached as chairman of the board of director.

Deadline added that Guillemot’s death comes as Ubisoft gears up for the release of its reboot Black Flag Resynced on July 9.

The Guardian reported that European fashion retailers are facing fresh questions over supply chain oversight after a fire at a factory that supplied them killed at least 33 garment workers in Bangladesh, but in this case the relevant entertainment focus here is Ubisoft’s role as a major game publisher.

In the statement Business Insider quoted, Ubisoft said: "No further statements will be made at this time," as the company confirmed Guillemot’s death and did not elaborate on the crash.