Ubisoft Co-Founder Claude Guillemot Dies in Plane Crash

Ubisoft co-founder Claude Guillemot has died following a plane crash in La Baule, Brittany, France. He was 69.

According to reports from Ouest France, the incident occurred on June 19 when a Cessna 421 twin-engine aircraft registered to Guillemot crashed near a runway. Two people were killed in the accident. While the family was notified later that day, formal identification of the victims has not yet been possible.

Guillemot was a member of the La Baule flying club and was reportedly in the area to attend an aviation event scheduled for that weekend.

Ubisoft confirmed the loss in a statement to the press: "[We] learned with great sadness of the death of Claude Guillemot, co-founder of the Group and President of Guillemot Corporation, in an accident. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. No further communication will be made at this stage."

Claude Guillemot helped establish Ubisoft in 1986 alongside his four brothers: Christian, Gérard, Michel, and Yves, the latter of whom currently serves as the company's CEO. Beyond his work with the publisher, Claude served as chairperson for the Guillemot Corporation.

CD Projekt Red Reflects on Cyberpunk 2077

In other industry news, CD Projekt Red co-CEO Michał Nowakowski recently spoke about the studio's ongoing efforts to regain player trust following the 2020 launch of Cyberpunk 2077. The game's release was famously troubled, leading to investor lawsuits and the temporary removal of the title from the PlayStation Store.

Speaking to Edge's Knowledge newsletter, Nowakowski admitted that while the studio has made significant strides, he is "not 100 percent convinced we went through the full redemption arc."

"I'm convinced that we lost the faith of some people indefinitely, and that's a fair thing," Nowakowski said. "But I do hope we will be able to make it back – if not with The Witcher 4, then with whatever comes next."

The studio, which has shifted its focus to a "rough ten-year rolling plan," noted that it does not intend to become a developer that releases a massive title every year. Instead, Nowakowski stated the goal is to produce high-quality games without expanding into a vast library of intellectual properties.

The turnaround for Cyberpunk 2077 has been substantial in the years since launch, with the Phantom Liberty expansion helping the game reach a 95 percent positive review rating on Steam shortly after its release.