Beyond Good and Evil 2 has been in development now for 15 years. Yes, that is how long we have been waiting for the follow-up to the 2003 action-adventure game.
New footage from the early development of Beyond Good and Evil 2 has recently surfaced online. The game footage is similar to the version that we have seen from previously released or leaked clips over the past years. Ubisoft also released an early announcement trailer for the game back in 2008 showing the protagonist Jade and Uncle Pey’j stuck in the desert after their car broke down.
The new footage comes from the design portfolio of animator Damien Barranco, who worked for Ubisoft in the 2000s. Barranco worked on the first Beyond Good and Evil, Rayman 2, and Ubisoft’s King Kong tie-in.
Des cinématiques inédites du Beyond Good & Evil 2 de 2008 viennent d'être découvertes par un fan ! Glissées dans le portfolio de Damien Barranco, animateur sur BG&E et sa suite (et bien d'autres !), on y découvre Pey'j et Double H en pleine discussion dans un bar ! #BGE2 pic.twitter.com/grpZrp8yta
— BG&E Myth (@bgemyth) September 25, 2023
The footage gives fans a first look at the third main character, Double H, in the upcoming title. The video also shows Double H and Pey’j drinking in a bar. Unfortunately, the dialogue is in French, and we cannot make out what the conversation is about.
Back in August, we reported that Ubisoft will release a 20th Anniversary Edition of Beyond Good and Evil. Eagle-eyed fans have spotted an Entertainment Software Ratings Board listing for “Beyond Good and Evil 20th Anniversary Edition” on its website, which suggests that the critically acclaimed action-adventure game may be getting a remaster for newer consoles. However, the ESRB listing has since been removed from the site dashing the hopes of fans wanting to play the game on modern consoles.
Beyond Good and Evil 2 has been stuck in development hell for what seems to be an eternity at this point. The game was announced in 2008 but then disappeared until it resurfaced in E3 2016 with new images. A new trailer was released in E3 2017 with Ubisoft confirming that the new game will be a prequel.
Earlier this year, Ubisoft announced that “Beyond Good and Evil 2’s development is underway and the team is hard at work to deliver on its ambitious promise.” However, there has been no further information provided for the game.
Beyond Good and Evil 2 now holds the rather dubious title of the longest development of a AAA video game. The upcoming title surpassed the record set by Duke Nukem Forever which was in development for 14 years. At the rate it is going, Beyond Good and Evil 2 may even make it past the 16-year mark.
Will we ever get to see the Beyond Good and Evil 2 release? We certainly hope so given that Ubisoft put in 15 years into the project. Will it be worth the wait? That is something that remains to be seen.
