Ubisoft's Project Graveyard: But This Bloomin' Beast Just Kept Walking!
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Amidst Ubisoft's recent project cull, the perpetually in-development *Beyond Good & Evil 2* has miraculously survived, astonishing fans and baffling industry observers who expected its demise. Jeff explores the wild history, fan reactions, and the compelling financial reasons why this record-breaking project just keeps on going, despite nearly two decades in the making.
Right, so you know that feeling when you're tidying up your desk, chucking out old notes, and then you find that one really ancient, half-finished spell scroll that you swore you'd lost decades ago? And for some reason, despite everything, it's still crackling with a faint, insistent energy?
Well, that's pretty much the vibe coming out of Ubisoft HQ this week, mate. The digital airwaves have been buzzing with news of a proper house-cleaning – a cull, they're calling it. Studios reorganised, projects shelved, and sadly, people's livelihoods impacted. We're talking about a significant clear-out, one that saw the much-anticipated *Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake* finally bite the dust after a good six years in development hell. Five other unnamed games joined it in the digital abyss, poof, gone. A tough day at the office, to say the least.
But here's where it gets absolutely bonkers, where my inner wizard just started cackling at the sheer defiance of it all: *Beyond Good & Evil 2* lives! Bloody hell, right? After nearly two decades – yes, *two decades* – this game, which already holds the Guinness World Record for the longest development cycle, has somehow, miraculously, dodged the corporate Grim Reaper. You'd think it would be top of the list for a mercy killing, wouldn't you? A true digital Lazarus, that one.
I've been tinkering with this story all morning, reading the digital tea leaves, and the general consensus among the long-suffering faithful over on Reddit is pure, unadulterated disbelief. Terms like "miraculous," "insane," and even "too big to fail" are being thrown around like confetti at a very, very confused wedding. One chap, dan_in_his_own_way, summed it up perfectly: "It's insane this game is still in production and survived." He then went on to point out the truly head-scratching irony that the *Prince of Persia* remake, arguably a smaller, less resource-intensive project, got canned while BGE2 endures. Fair dinkum, you've got to wonder what kind of eldritch magic is protecting this particular beast.
Another witty soul, Travguard, quipped that "Beyond Good and Evil 2 will survive World War 3," only for meathappening to add the perfect punchline: "But it still won't be out by the armistice." And honestly, that's the kind of casually irreverent, slightly exasperated humour that perfectly encapsulates the BGE2 fanbase. They've been waiting so long, they're practically part of the furniture now.
Now, let's get down to the nitty-gritty, because this is where my cleverly observant antennae start twitching. Why, in a climate of ruthless efficiency and financial belt-tightening, would Ubisoft keep such a famously troubled, perpetually unfinished project alive? One fan, 33Sharpies, hit the nail on the head. If Ubisoft were to officially cancel *Beyond Good & Evil 2*, they'd have to write off the gargantuan development costs. And when we're talking about a project that, according to Insider Gaming's unverified reports, might have internally cost over $500 million, that's not just a dent in the balance sheet, mate; that's a bloody crater. As long as it's 'ongoing,' it can stay listed as an asset. A very expensive, very old asset, but an asset nonetheless. It's less about genuine belief, and more about preventing a financial black hole, perhaps? A fascinating insight into the corporate labyrinth, isn't it?
Let's cast our minds back to the beginning of this epic, almost mythical saga. Early development is believed to have kicked off in 2007, with series creator Michel Ancel (yes, the *Rayman* mastermind) and his Ubisoft Montpellier team at the helm. Then, well, not much happened for a while, as Montpellier worked on other projects. But then, *bam!* 2017 saw a glorious re-announcement, complete with an in-engine concept showing off incredible space flight and designs for multiple solar systems. Everyone, myself included, was cautiously optimistic. "Could this finally be it?" we wondered, holding our breath.
Of course, development, as is its wont, struggled again. The project took another hit with Ancel's departure from Ubisoft, and then, tragically, the sad passing of its subsequent creative lead, Emil Morel. It's been a truly turbulent journey, enough to make any lesser game throw in the towel.
Yet, here we are. The last couple of years have seen some surprising flickers of life. We even saw characters from the sequel make intriguing cameos in the recent *Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition*. And, perhaps most importantly, a new creative director, Fawzi Mesmar (a veteran from DICE and King, no less), has come on board to, as they say, steady the ship. It’s almost as if someone finally found the ancient runes to re-energise that spell scroll.
So, where does that leave us? *Beyond Good & Evil 2* still lacks any hint of a release date, which, let's be fair, isn't exactly shocking. It might even have been one of those titles Ubisoft mentioned delaying for 'further polish' yesterday, rather than outright cancelling. But for now, it's alive. Breathing. Perhaps even… developing? It defies all logic, flies in the face of conventional wisdom, and yet, here it is, stubbornly refusing to join the scrap heap. It’s chaotic, optimistic, and utterly bewildering, just like a good gaming story should be. What a wild, wild ride, eh?
Tags: Gaming News, Ubisoft, Beyond Good & Evil 2, Game Development, Industry Analysis
Original article: IGN South Africa