Ubisoft co-founder killed in crash: What his work meant for Ukraine’s gaming industry
(screenshot: Getty Images/Bloomberg)
In the French resort town of La Baule, 69-year-old Claude Guillemot died in an aviation accident. He was one of the five founding brothers of the world-renowned game development company Ubisoft and the current head of Guillemot Corporation, according to TechCrunch.
The death of Claude Guillemot is a major loss for the video game industry. He stood at the origins of a company that created iconic franchises such as Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Prince of Persia. The Guillemot family laid a strong foundation for the game development industry in Eastern Europe, including Ukraine.
Creation of a gaming giant
The Guillemot family’s success story began in the mid-1980s in the French region of Brittany. The five brothers - Claude, Yves, Michel, Christian, and Gérard - started their business by distributing audio CDs and computer hardware.
Noticing the high cost of importing computers and software from the UK and the US, they created Guillemot Informatique, a mail-order company selling affordable equipment.
In 1986, the brothers founded Ubisoft. While the younger brother, Yves Guillemot, took on the role of public leader and CEO, Claude remained a key operational figure, responsible for international expansion, technological support, and strategic planning on the board of directors.
At the same time, Claude headed Guillemot Corporation, known for producing gaming and audio accessories under the Thrustmaster and Hercules brands.
A difficult period for the corporation
The sudden death of the co-founder coincides with a challenging stage in the company’s development. Ubisoft is currently undergoing major internal restructuring due to significant financial losses.
Earlier, management announced the cancellation of several promising game projects, the closure of two internal divisions, and the layoff of around 380 employees.
The company’s losses are projected to reach €1 billion, which has already led to a one-third drop in market capitalization and a fall in share value to historic lows.
Analysts predict that a return to stable profitability will be delayed by at least one year.
Read more: Xbox fans outraged: Call of Duty games perform better on PS5
Ukrainian context: Guillemot’s legacy in Kyiv and Odesa
The international expansion strategy coordinated by Claude Guillemot had a direct impact on the development of Ukraine’s video game industry. Thanks to Ubisoft’s large-scale expansion into Eastern Europe, the Ubisoft Kyiv studio was opened in April 2008.
Over the years, the Ukrainian office has grown into one of the largest and most important branches of the company in the region.
Currently, Ubisoft’s structure in Ukraine looks like this:
- The Kyiv studio is among the top 10 largest developers within the Ubisoft Group.
- The company expanded its presence in the region by opening a second official branch in Odesa.
- Ukrainian developers, engineers, and artists are directly involved in the creation, optimization, and porting of major AAA projects, including Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Watch Dogs, and Rainbow Six Siege.
Despite the global crisis within the corporation, the Ukrainian offices continue to play an important role in the company’s operations.
