This week on June 25, Ubisoft revealed the 20th anniversary remastered edition of Beyond Good & Evil, but it’s not the Beyond Good & Evil that many want. Beyond Good & Evil 2 was announced in 2008, about 16 years ago. I remember blogging somewhere about the trailer for Pey’j the pig mechanic eating a fly. “Fly eating mechanics confirmed?” I probably scribbled it in the blessed innocence of youth.
Since then, there has been a long series of delays, re-announcements, key team departures, and depressed failures. Original director Michel Ancel left Ubisoft in 2020 accusations of disorganization and abusive management, while original director Emile Morel died suddenly in July 2023 at the age of 40. Many speculate that Beyond Good & Evil 2 will never make it into the wild. However, Ubisoft decided to restore faith a bit by adding a up-to-date mission to the anniversary edition of Beyond Good & Evil that refers to the events of the sequel.
The mission in question is a treasure hunt where players can learn about Jade’s childhood by earning cosmetic rewards. “This exclusive new mission also reveals more about the narrative connections to Beyond Good & Evil 2, demonstrating Ubisoft’s ongoing commitment to the franchise,” Ubisoft promised in a press release.
I wouldn’t take this as an indication that a re-release of Beyond Good & Evil 2 is imminent, but I do see it as more concrete evidence that the game is in the works than any recent assurances from Ubisoft. I imagine the game has changed a lot since its last public unveiling at E3 2018, which delighted us with talk of procedural planets, simulated solar system physics, jetpacks, sword fights, and the ability to build your own fighter. Here’s that footage again, for God’s sake.
