Author and game namesake Tom Clancy dies at 66

Author and video game namesake Tom Clancy has died at 66. The New York Times reports that the best-selling author died yesterday of unreleased causes in a Baltimore hospital.

His literary career took off in 1984 with the publication of The Hunt for Red October, which was adapted into several video games and a motion picture over the next six years. The Tom Clancy's series of games began with tactical shooter Rainbow Six in 1998.

Ubisoft has held the series, which expanded into sub-franchises like Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon, and upcoming MMO shooter The Division, since it purchased Red Storm Entertainment in 2000. It said in a Facebook post that it would continue to create games in his name.

"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."

Editor's note: This story originally stated Tom Clancy died today. He died yesterday. We regret the error.