Ubisoft's long-in-the-works Beyond Good and Evil 2 "a unique proposition" in the open world adventure market, studio says

Ubisoft has confirmed Beyond Good and Evil 2 - which it first announced almost two decades ago - remains a priority for the studio, and "fits with [its] strategy of focusing on Open World Adventures".

Earlier this week, Ubisoft left many in shock when it announced a "major organisational, operational and portfolio reset", which saw the company delay seven unspecified projects, close two studios and cancel multiple games.

One game to survive, though, was Beyond Good and Evil 2, which was first announced in its original form back in 2008, and last seen (at least publicly) during E3 2017 with an open-world slant. In a statement shared with Eurogamer, a Ubisoft spokesperson has said:

"Beyond Good and Evil 2 remains part of our portfolio and our roadmap and fits with our strategy of focusing on Open World Adventures."

The studio's spokesperson added that within this market, "the fantasy genre is underserved". Therefore, Ubisoft has a "unique proposition" with its Beyond Good and Evil sequel.

Image credit: Ubisoft

It has not been an easy path for Beyond Good and Evil 2, though there has been some movement in recent years. In 2024, the game got a new creative director, with original creator Michel Ancel saying the troubled development came down to "passionate managers" not getting along.

Last year, meanwhile, a job listing looking for a technical sound designer specifically for Beyond Good and Evil 2 was shared by Ubisoft. At this time, we also got an updated description of what Beyond Good and Evil 2 will actually be:

"Beyond Good and Evil 2 is 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. So, if you are ready for an adventure like no other, come join forces with us to build System 3!"

Image credit: Ubisoft

As for elsewhere at Ubisoft, this week's cancellations included the studio's Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake, which was only a few months from its planned release.

While the team behind the remake has since called Sands of Time's cancellation "deeply disappointing" for fans and the development team, it does not mean Ubisoft is "stepping away" from the Prince of Persia franchise for good.