Ubisoft co-founder Claude Guillemot dies in plane crash in France

PARIS, June 21 — Two people were killed when a plane crashed in western France, including a co-founder of video game giant Ubisoft, German Press Agency (dpa) reported, citing authorities and the company yesterday.

The twin-motor plane crashed into a field near the town of La Baule on Friday evening while approaching the local airfield, according to the public prosecutor’s office.

Ubisoft said it had learned “with great sadness” of the death of co-founder Claude Guillemot. The French company is known for blockbuster global franchises including Assassin’s Creed.

The aircraft had taken off from Rennes, where Guillemot lived. Prosecutors said he owned the plane, but stopped short of officially identifying him as one of the victims.

An investigation has been opened on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter. The exact circumstances and cause of the crash have not yet been determined.

Guillemot, 69, co-founded Ubisoft with his brothers in 1986. More recently, he served as head of the Guillemot Corporation, which sells computer gaming accessories and related products.

French junior minister for artificial intelligence and digital affairs Anne Le Hénanff paid tribute to Guillemot on X, writing that the French video game industry had lost “one of its pioneers.” — Bernama-dpa