Claude Guillemot, co-founder of Ubisoft, has died at the age of 69 in the crash of a light aircraft in La Baule on Friday, June 19. The news resonates deeply with us: an entire chapter of French video game history has come to an end.

Five brothers, one ambition, an empire

In 1986, Claude Guillemot and his four brothers — Christian, Gérard, Michel, and Yves — founded Ubi Soft in Brittany, France. Less visible than his brother Yves, who became the public face of the company as CEO, Claude was one of those who built success behind the scenes. He also led Guillemot Corporation, the parent company behind brands many of us have used without necessarily knowing it: Thrustmaster and Hercules, both long-standing references in gaming accessories and audio equipment.

From this family venture emerged one of the greatest success stories in the French video game industry — a company that brought to life franchises that became global icons: Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Rayman, Prince of Persia, and the Tom Clancy’s series. These are names that helped put France on the international gaming map in an industry where few expected it to shine.

Whether these franchises are retro classics or modern blockbusters, most of us have played at least one Ubisoft title at some point. From Rayman and Prince of Persia on your old console or your Recalbox to Assassin’s Creed and Rainbow Six on modern consoles, Ubisoft has consistently left its mark across generations, and each of the French developer’s franchises has helped shape the industry in its own way.

A legacy that goes far beyond financial results

It would be dishonest to pretend that Ubisoft is going through an easy period. The company has faced significant restructuring in recent months, with project cancellations and departures that have had a noticeable impact on the community. Yet these challenges, real as they may be, should not overshadow the bigger picture: what the Guillemot family has built since 1986 remains a landmark achievement in the video game industry and a source of French pride.

Claude Guillemot belonged to a generation of entrepreneurs who helped bring French video games onto the world stage at a time when few would have bet on such an ambition. For us in the Recalbox community, who grew up with these games and the hardware associated with them, this is also a small part of our own story being remembered today.

Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.

Sources: Clubic, France Info, TheGamer