Bloody Hell, It Lives! Beyond Good & Evil 2 Defies Logic (And Ubisoft's Own Reset) – What Sorcery Is This?
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Ubisoft's recent 'reset' saw many projects cancelled, but against all odds, the legendary (and nearly two-decade-old) Beyond Good and Evil 2 survived, leaving us digital wizards wondering what unearthly forces are at play.
Right, so apparently Ubisoft's been doing a bit of digital spring cleaning, and honestly, it sounds like they accidentally blew a hole through reality in the process. We're talking 'major organisational, operational and portfolio reset,' mate, which is corporate-speak for 'we're having a proper clear-out and some things are getting unceremoniously yeeted into the digital ether.' Seven projects delayed, two studios shuttered, multiple games cancelled – sounds like a proper chaotic spell went awry, doesn't it?
But here's the kicker, the bit that makes me squint at my screen like I've just seen a unicorn riding a skateboard: one game, one magnificent digital ghost, not only survived this purge but is apparently a 'priority.' I'm talking about *Beyond Good and Evil 2*.
Now, if you've been around the gaming block a few times, you'll know that BG&E2 has been in development – or at least, *mentioned* in development – since approximately the Mesozoic Era. Or, y'know, 2008. Either way, it's been nearly two decades. Two whole decades! Most games have been born, released, gone through a remaster, and faded into legend in that time. BG&E2 just... existed in a nebulous void, occasionally resurfacing at E3 (remember E3?) with breathtaking trailers that looked impossibly ambitious.
So, what sorcery has allowed this phantom project to escape Ubisoft's ruthless broom? A spokesperson, in a statement that probably took a team of wizards several weeks to craft, confirmed that BG&E2 'remains part of our portfolio and our roadmap and fits with our strategy of focusing on Open World Adventures.' Right. Because after 18 years, it's suddenly the poster child for 'fitting strategy.' I'm gently skeptical here, but fair play to the PR team for keeping a straight face.
They also dropped a line about the 'fantasy genre being underserved' in the open-world market, making BG&E2 a 'unique proposition.' Now, I love a good fantasy as much as the next digital wizard, but calling a game that's been in limbo since before iPhones were cool a 'unique proposition' just because it's still alive feels a bit like calling a resurrected dinosaur 'unique' for being able to still walk. It's less unique and more... a miracle of digital engineering (or stubbornness, take your pick).
It hasn't been a smooth ride, mind you. Remember Michel Ancel, the original creator? He once hinted at 'passionate managers' not quite seeing eye-to-eye – which is a lovely, diplomatic way of saying things were probably a bit of a bloody mess behind the scenes. We even had a new creative director come aboard in 2024, and last year, a job listing for a technical sound designer specifically for BG&E2 popped up. These are tiny sparks, mind you, but enough to remind us that *something* is happening in there, even if it feels like watching paint dry on a particularly large, intergalactic canvas.
Ubisoft also updated the game's description, and it's still as grand as ever: 'an action-adventure open world game set in a captivating space opera universe and the direct prequel to the 2003 cult classic. Based on a breakthrough technology driven by the proprietary Voyager engine, Beyond Good and Evil 2 aims to offer a seamless experience of exploration and space piracy across a solar system full of exotic locations, colorful characters and mysteries to uncover, solo or with friends.'
Sounds absolutely smashing, doesn't it? 'Seamless experience,' 'space piracy,' 'solo or with friends'... it's everything a curious gamer could want. But after nearly two decades of development, the sheer weight of expectation must be astronomical. Can any game, even one powered by a 'breakthrough technology,' truly live up to the myth it has become? My inner cynic (who's usually busy arguing with my inner optimist) is screaming, 'If it sounds too good to be true, mate, it probably is!' But my inner enthusiast is still quietly hoping for a touch of that old magic.
And just to rub salt in the collective gaming wound, amongst the casualties of Ubisoft's great reset was the *Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake*. A game that was, by all accounts, only a few months from release! Now, I reckon the PoP remake team and fans are feeling 'deeply disappointed,' and who can blame them? It just makes you wonder about the internal calculus: what cosmic alignment kept the perpetually-in-development BG&E2 safe while a seemingly ready-to-launch remake got the axe? Is there some deeper arcane secret here? Some ancient developer's pact?
So, here we stand, gazing into the digital tea leaves. *Beyond Good and Evil 2* lives, a testament to... well, something. Stubbornness? Vision? A contractual obligation so ironclad even Ubisoft's wizards couldn't dispel it? Whatever the reason, it's a wild ride, and I'm genuinely curious to see if this ancient, legendary beast can finally emerge from its digital cocoon. It’s either going to be the most epic adventure ever, or the greatest cautionary tale in gaming history. Either way, it's going to be interesting, and that's what truly counts, isn't it?
Tags: BeyondGoodAndEvil2, Ubisoft, GameDevelopment, OpenWorld, GamingNews
Original article: Eurogamer