A tragic aviation accident has claimed the life of one of the founding fathers of the world-renowned video game developer Ubisoft, the studio behind blockbuster franchises including *Assassin’s Creed*. French authorities confirmed the news of Claude Guillemot’s death in a public update issued on Saturday.
Local Mayor Franck Louvrier shared details of the crash, which unfolded on Friday evening close to La Baule airport along France’s Atlantic coastline. The aircraft involved was a twin-engine Cessna 421, carrying both Guillemot and a certified flight instructor. According to Louvrier’s statement, both men were licensed pilots with extensive flying experience, yet neither survived the impact of the crash. An official investigation into the cause of the accident has already been launched, with authorities working to piece together what led to the crash.
A senior airport official, who requested anonymity as they were not granted permission to speak on the record to media, confirmed to the Associated Press that the aircraft went down in an open agricultural field while it was making its final approach to land at La Baule-Escoublac Airport.
Guillemot co-founded Ubisoft alongside his four brothers back in 1986, growing the small studio into one of the biggest names in the global gaming industry. Over the decades, the company has built a portfolio of some of the most popular and best-selling video game franchises in history. Beyond the cultural phenomenon that is the *Assassin’s Creed* series, Ubisoft is also responsible for hit properties including the rhythm game staple *Just Dance*, the iconic platformer series *Rayman*, and the tactical *Tom Clancy* franchise, which includes fan favorites like *Rainbow Six* and *Splinter Cell*.
Ubisoft issued a brief confirmation of Guillemot’s death following the accident, but declined to provide any additional comment as the company processes the loss.