Beyond Good & Evil 2 Remains in Pre-Production After 18 Years
- Beyond Good & Evil 2 is still in pre-production, nearly 18 years after its announcement.
- The game has shifted from a multiplayer-first focus to a “solo-first” narrative with optional co-op.
- Ubisoft’s restructuring raises questions about the game’s future, with full production yet to begin.
Beyond Good & Evil 2 continues to remain in pre-production, a situation that is particularly remarkable, given that it was first announced 18 years ago. The development progress has also undergone significant changes; it originally began as a multiplayer-centric project but has since evolved into a “solo-first” narrative experience, with optional co-op gameplay elements.
Origami Media, in a recent French report translated by DeepL, shared insights from sources connected to the game’s development. Between 2019 and 2022, the concept involved a “highly multiplayer and connected” environment featuring numerous planets for players. As described by Origami, the initial design aimed to create a “third place” where players would interact similarly to environments in Fortnite or Destiny, taking on the role of a blank character accompanying the main heroes of Beyond Good & Evil.
The project has notably shifted from smaller matching groups to more open-ended play, eventually narrowing down to pairs. Currently, the development objective is to provide a “solo-first” adventure without a necessary online connection, complemented by a strong narrative that allows for cooperative gameplay.
Despite the extensive timeline of development—marked by the unveiling of the first CGI trailer at the Paris-based UbiDays event in 2008—the game has not yet moved into full production. As reported, pre-production still involves at least 250 people at Ubisoft Montpellier, with aspirations to transition into the alpha phase soon.
Historically, Beyond Good and Evil 2 has struggled to meet its creative milestones, referred to as “gates.” These are believed to represent playable builds of the game, which have been missed due to ongoing changes in the game’s vision. Some team members have questioned the game’s innovation and engagement, leading to repeated deadline extensions for enhancements, such as the combat system.
The continued existence of this unfinished title can largely be attributed to sustained support from Ubisoft, which has made its cancellation improbable. However, a series of restructuring initiatives at Ubisoft has now shifted this perception. Recent layoffs, including those affecting Trials developer RedLynx and the Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced team, indicate a re-evaluation of ongoing projects. One source described the current situation as a “return to a sense of reality,” stating that developers are uncertain about the future of the project.
As of now, Beyond Good and Evil 2 holds the record for the longest development period of any video game, having surpassed the previous record held by Duke Nukem Forever in 2022. The game was reported to have reached a point of near-realization in 2018 during a private E3 press event, promising a playable beta by the end of 2019, which never came to fruition. Recently, the project has seen a change in creative direction, and job postings related to its development have appeared sporadically.
News Courtesy of Eurogamer
