Founding father of gaming large Ubisoft killed in France airplane crash

Claude Guillemot, a co-founder of the worldwide gaming large Ubisoft, has died in a airplane crash in western France, authorities confirmed on Saturday. Mr Guillemot was aboard a twin-motor Cessna 421 that crashed Friday night close to La Baule airport on the Atlantic coast.

The plane was additionally carrying a flight teacher; each people had been licensed and skilled pilots and had been killed within the incident, Mayor Franck Louvrier acknowledged. An investigation into the crash is now underway. An airport official, talking anonymously, instructed The Associated Press the airplane got here down in a area simply earlier than touchdown at La Baule-Escoublac Airport.

“Ubisoft ‌was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Claude Guillemot, co-founder of the group and chairman ​of Guillemot Corp, in an accident,” the corporate stated in a ​assertion.

“Our thoughts are with his family ⁠and loved ones during this difficult time. No ​further statements will be made at this time.” ​they added. They declined to additional remark.

Ubisoft was based by Guillemot along with his 4 brothers in 1986.

He was pivotal in remodeling Ubisoft from a mail-order software program enterprise into one of many world’s largest online game firms. He additionally chaired the household’s {hardware} arm, Guillemot Corporation.

Working largely behind the scenes, he served because the operational spine of the household’s broader leisure enterprise, whereas his brother Yves grew to become the general public face of the gaming large as its long-serving CEO.

The agency is famend for its extremely profitable blockbuster gaming franchises, which embody Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Rayman and Tom Clancy.