Beyond Good and Evil 2 Survives Ubisoft’s Restructuring

(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Somehow, Beyond Good and Evil 2 continues to endure amidst the chaos at Ubisoft. Announced all the way back in 2008, this game has been through numerous phases of development, and fans have now been waiting nearly 18 years to witness it come to fruition. You’d think this project might have fallen victim to Ubisoft’s recent major overhaul, but the publisher insists it’s still very much alive.

During an explanation of the restructuring earlier this week, Ubisoft identified Beyond Good and Evil as part of what it refers to as Creative House 4. While this isn’t a concrete confirmation that the sequel is actively in development, it’s at least some glimmer of hope. One can’t help but wonder how a list featuring six canceled titles—including the much-anticipated Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake—could leave BG&E2 unscathed. Yet, the news feels like a small victory for the fans hoping for its return.

Ubisoft clarified their position with a statement: “Beyond Good & Evil will be part of Creative House 4, dedicated to immersive fantasy worlds and narrative-driven universes,” a company spokesperson told Kotaku. “Beyond Good & Evil 2 remains a priority for us in the context of our strategy centered around Open World Adventures.”

So, congratulations to the Beyond Good and Evil fans, I guess? But honestly, this just means the agony of waiting stretches on. The teaser trailer first graced our screens back in 2008, but it wasn’t until 2017 that the sequel we now recognize as BG&E2 was officially revealed. Unfortunately, in the years since, the game has gone back underground, with Ubisoft intermittently assuring us it’s still being developed.

If Beyond Good and Evil 2 is indeed in the pipeline, I can’t help but wonder what the reasoning is. Don’t get me wrong—the original game built its cult status for a solid reason, and the ambitious open-world vision Ubisoft presented back in 2017 still sounds enchanting. However, we can’t ignore that the original Beyond Good and Evil is often recognized for how many people actually didn’t experience it. Why is Ubisoft committed to seeing this sequel through while so many other projects have been shelved? It’s worth noting that the last title that escaped from development hell only ultimately fell flat. With each reassurance from Ubisoft, my unease about BG&E2’s future only deepens.

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