Why Ubisoft is Remaking Rayman Legends Instead of Starting From Scratch
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Ubisoft explains why Rayman Legends Retold is targeting the 2013 platformer instead of older franchise entries, focusing on character rosters, engine upgrades, and franchise relaunch strategies.
When a publisher announces a remaster or remake for a game that already runs fine on modern hardware, it is easy to question the timing. Ubisoft recently confirmed that Rayman Legends Retold is on the way, sparking immediate debates across community spaces about why the studio chose to revisit a 2013 title instead of digging into older, less accessible entries in the franchise. In an interview with Polygon, brand manager Loic Gounon explained that the decision came down to a strategic calculus aimed at relaunching the entire IP for a new generation of players across current platforms.
Choosing Rayman Legends over the original game or Rayman Origins was driven by the sheer completeness of the package. According to Gounon, the development teams at Ubisoft Milan and Montpellier wanted a baseline that featured the widest roster of characters, including Globox and Barbara, alongside the richest worldbuilding. Rebuilding the title in the proprietary Snowdrop engine allows the studio to pivot the art direction into fully realized 3D while fixing specific narrative and structural flaws from the original release, such as its disjointed ending and the painting gallery navigation.
While some fans argue that starting with an older entry would have made more chronological sense, this approach offers a practical blueprint for reviving dormant franchises. Instead of getting bogged down in recreating dated mechanics from early entries, Ubisoft is using a universally praised mechanical framework as a launchpad for a brand new era. For players who treat gaming as an evolving ecosystem of ongoing services and returning classics, this targeted reimagining might just be the smartest way to bring a beloved platformer back to the mainstream. Original reporting can be found on Polygon.
Tags: Ubisoft, Rayman Legends, Gaming News, Platformers, Industry Insights
Original article: Polygon