It has been nearly two decades. Honestly, if you were a toddler when the first Beyond Good and Evil game dropped on the GameCube and PS2, you’re likely out of college and paying taxes by now. That is a wild timeline for a single sequel. We are talking about a project that has officially broken the Guinness World Record for the longest development period of a AAA video game, surpassing even the legendary disaster that was Duke Nukem Forever.
But here is the thing: people still care.
Why? Because the original good and evil game—the first Beyond Good and Evil—wasn't just another platformer. It was a weird, soulful mix of investigative journalism, hovercraft racing, and a conspiracy story that felt way more mature than its "cartoon" graphics suggested. Michel Ancel, the creator of Rayman, built something special in 2003. Since then, the sequel has become a sort of phantom. It appears in stunning CGI trailers at E3, melts everyone's brains, and then vanishes for three to five years at a time.
The development hell nobody expected
Ubisoft Montpellier has been through the ringer. To understand why this good and evil game is taking forever, you have to look at the sheer scope of what they promised back in 2017 and 2018. They weren't just making a sequel; they were trying to build a seamless, procedurally generated universe where you could go from a dirty city street into a spaceship, fly into orbit, and land on another planet without a single loading screen.
That is incredibly hard. It is Starfield levels of ambition but with a much more dense, hand-crafted aesthetic.
The project has faced massive hurdles. Michel Ancel left the industry in 2020 amid reports of a "toxic" work environment and disorganized leadership. Then, tragically, the game's creative director, Emile Morel, passed away in 2023 at the age of 40. Losing the creative heart of a project twice over would kill most games. Yet, Ubisoft keeps insisting it is still in the works. In June 2024, during the Beyond Good and Evil 20th Anniversary Edition release, they explicitly confirmed that the sequel is still in development. They basically had to say it because fans were convinced the anniversary remaster was a "parting gift" before a cancellation announcement.
What is this game actually about?
If you're looking for Jade and Pey’j, you might be surprised. Based on the most recent deep dives from the developers, Beyond Good and Evil 2 is actually a prequel.
It takes place in System 4 during the 24th century. This is a time of intense interstellar colonization where clones are used as slave labor. You play as a custom character—a space pirate—who is trying to find "True Freedom" among the stars. It’s gritty. It’s foul-mouthed. It is a massive departure from the PG-rated feel of the first game.
The world-building is actually pretty fascinating.
- You have the "Hybrid" characters (like Pey’j from the first game) who are genetically engineered animal-human mixes.
- There is a heavy focus on Indian and Chinese mythological aesthetics blended with high-tech sci-fi.
- The "Space Monkey Program" was a way for fans to submit art and music to be included in the game, though that has gone quiet lately.
You’ve got to wonder if the game has changed internally since those 2018 demos. Technology moves fast. What looked "impossible" in 2018 is now being done by games like No Man's Sky and Star Citizen. Ubisoft is likely retooling the engine (Voyager) to keep up with PS5 and Xbox Series X capabilities, or even the hardware coming after them.
The 20th Anniversary Edition was a huge clue
If you want to know if a good and evil game sequel is actually coming, look at the 20th Anniversary Edition released recently. Ubisoft didn't just up-res the textures. They added a brand-new treasure hunt mission that specifically links Jade’s past to the events of the upcoming prequel.
This was a calculated move.
It tells us two things. First, they are still committed to the narrative threads they started years ago. Second, they are testing the waters to see if there is still a market for this IP. It’s a low-risk way to gather data. If a million people buy the remaster, the budget for the sequel stays safe. If it flops? Well, that’s when the "cancellation" rumors start to look a lot more real.
The remaster features a gallery with never-before-seen concept art for the sequel. You can see the evolution of the character designs and the environments. It’s like Ubisoft is saying, "Look, we’re still drawing, we’re still dreaming, just give us another decade."
Why the "Good and Evil" label matters
In the gaming world, the title is a bit of a misnomer because the game isn't just about a binary choice between being a saint or a villain. It’s about systemic corruption. The "Good" is the resistance—the journalists and pirates. The "Evil" is the DomZ and the Alpha Sections, who are supposed to be the protectors but are actually the ones harvesting souls.
The sequel seems to be leaning even harder into this. As a pirate, you aren't exactly a "good guy" in the traditional sense. You're a criminal. But in a system built on clone slavery, the criminals might be the only ones with a conscience.
Real talk: Will it ever come out?
Let's be real. There are huge risks here. Ubisoft has been cancelling projects left and right lately—Ghost Recon Frontline, Splinter Cell VR, and several unannounced titles. The fact that this one survives suggests that either it’s too big to fail or someone at the top really believes in the vision.
Bloomberg's Jason Schreier has reported multiple times that the game is still in "early pre-production" even years after the 2017 trailer. That is terrifying. It means they might have rebooted the entire thing at least once or twice.
However, Ubisoft’s recent financial calls still list it as an active project. They are hiring for it. They are talking about it. For a good and evil game fan, that’s all we have to hang onto.
What you should do right now
If you’re waiting for this game, don't hold your breath for a release date this year. Instead, take these concrete steps to get the full experience and stay updated without falling for the hype cycle.
Play the 20th Anniversary Edition first. Seriously. It’s the best way to play the original, and the new "Missions" give you the only actual "new" lore we have had in years. It bridges the gap between the two games in a way that feels intentional.
Follow the developers, not just the brand.
Keep an eye on Ubisoft Montpellier’s LinkedIn and careers page. When you see a surge in hiring for "Senior Gameplay Programmers" or "Narrative Designers" specifically for the BGE2 project, that's a better indicator of progress than any cinematic trailer.
Don't pre-order anything. This game has changed hands so many times that the final product might look nothing like the 2018 demo. Wait for actual, unedited gameplay.
Watch the "Space Monkey Program" archives. Ubisoft still has the old developer livestreams on YouTube. They go deep into the technical side of how the planet-to-space transitions work. It’s a great way to see the ambition—and the technical debt—this project is carrying.
The wait for the next good and evil game is a test of patience that would break most fandoms. But as long as there are stories to tell about Jade, System 4, and the fight against the DomZ, there will be a community waiting at the finish line. Even if that line is another ten years away.
Actionable Summary for Fans
- Verify the Lore: Complete the new "Jade’s Past" mission in the Anniversary Edition to see the literal connection to the sequel.
- Monitor Engine Updates: Watch for news regarding the "Voyager Engine." Its stability is the true gatekeeper for the game's release.
- Set Realistic Expectations: Given the leadership changes, expect a game that feels more like a "soft reboot" than a direct continuation of the 2017 vision.