Summary (tl;dr)

Claude Guillemot, a co-founder of the acclaimed video game company Ubisoft and chairman of Guillemot Corporation, has died at 69 in a plane crash in western France on Friday, June 19, 2026.

Essential Background

Ubisoft was established in 1986 by five brothers: Yves, Claude, Gerard, Christian, and Michel Guillemot, evolving into a global video game publishing powerhouse. While Yves Guillemot is widely recognized as the CEO, Claude Guillemot played a pivotal role in the company's early development and later served as chairman and CEO of Guillemot Corporation, a family-owned entity specializing in gaming peripherals that also holds a significant stake in Ubisoft.

The Full Story

Claude Guillemot, 69, tragically died on Friday evening, June 19, 2026, when the twin-engine Cessna 421 private plane he was on crashed near La Baule-Escoublac Airport on France's Atlantic coast. A flight instructor was also killed in the incident, and an investigation into the cause of the crash is currently underway. Ubisoft has issued a statement expressing profound sadness over his unexpected passing.

Why It Matters

The death of Claude Guillemot marks a significant loss for the global gaming industry and Ubisoft, a company he helped transform from a small software business into one of the world's largest video game publishers, known for popular franchises such as "Assassin's Creed" and "Far Cry". His passing underscores the enduring influence and family control the Guillemot brothers have maintained over a substantial portion of the gaming landscape, impacting both Ubisoft and Guillemot Corporation.

Geographic Location

• La Baule, Loire-Atlantique, France (plane crash)