Best-selling author Tom Clancy has passed away at the age of 66. His first novel, The Hunt for Red October, launched a career that would eventually encompass movie and video game franchises.

Ubisoft, who licenses the Tom Clancy name for a number of their most popular franchises, issued a statement. "We are saddened to learn of Tom Clancy's passing and our condolences go out to his family," they said on Facebook. "Tom Clancy was an extraordinary author with a gift for creating detailed, engrossing fictional stories that captivated audiences around the world."

The company still plans on using the Tom Clancy name for future projects. The next major release to bear Clancy's name is The Division.

"The teams at Ubisoft, especially at the Red Storm studio, are incredibly grateful to have collaborated with and learned from him, and we are humbled by the opportunity to carry on part of his legacy through our properties that bear his name," the company added.