Author and inspiration for many of gaming's greatest military- and spy-themed games Tom Clancy passed away last night. His publisher has confirmed the news to the New York Times and CNN.

Clancy's first novel, The Hunt for Red October (published in 1984), was turned into a film and a video game in 1990. Our thoughts go out to Mr. Clancy's family and friends. 

Update: Ubisoft, publisher of the games bearing Tom Clancy's name, has shared the following statement on its Facebook page.

We are saddened to learn of Tom Clancy’s passing and our condolences go out to his family. Tom Clancy was an extraordinary author with a gift for creating detailed, engrossing fictional stories that captivated audiences around the world.

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.

[Source: New York Times, CNN]