We already had a pretty clear notion that Beyond Good & Evil 2 was destined for the next generation of consoles, and now Michel Ancel has shed some light on the issue. Speaking to GamesRadar, Ancel stated that the scope of the first Beyond Good & Evil was "large" – including "the city, the ocean, the moon and the space ship" – but it was originally intended to be much larger.
The space ship, said Ancel, was originally intended to travel to distant planets, but the limitations of PS2 era consoles hindered the game's vision. "My thing is that we really want to make the game that was previously imagined, with all this feeling of traveling," said Ancel, citing Mass Effect as a good example of the concept. The development team at Ubisoft hopes to "continue in that direction, with storytelling and a massive world," so much so that, apparently, current generation consoles just won't cut it.
Check out the full interview for more on the original Beyond Good & Evil, Rayman Origins and Ancel's development philosophy.
Reader Comments (56)
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:12AM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said
Ugh! Another grueling wait. If you haven't played the first BGE, do yourself a favor and find a copy. One of the best adventure games of all time IMO.
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:31AM Faceless Troll said
@Captain Planet Planeteer Power Fortunately finding a copy isn't hard. Just go onto PSN or XBL.
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Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:34AM baby sea tuna said
@Faceless Troll
Unfortunately, the button layout is still counterintuitive and not remappable. :(
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Unfortunately, the button layout is still counterintuitive and not remappable. :(
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:36AM Faceless Troll said
@baby sea tuna I didn't have any problem with the controls.
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Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:41AM baby sea tuna said
@Faceless Troll
They were pretty much the opposite of what I'm used to with this type of game. Probably not a problem for everybody, but a big sticking point for me.
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They were pretty much the opposite of what I'm used to with this type of game. Probably not a problem for everybody, but a big sticking point for me.
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 1:41PM wrongThinker said
@Faceless Troll ...or jump on Steam and pick it up for the PC. :D
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Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:13AM Faceless Troll said
So Wii U launch title right?
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 3:18PM Hunter141072 said
@Faceless Troll
More likely an actual p.c. title.........
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More likely an actual p.c. title.........
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:14AM Co said
O Rly?
You mean like Wii U?
You mean like Wii U?
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:14AM DokiDokiBawanga said
After finishing Beyond Good & Evil HD i feel even more hunger for sequel. wait for next gen? i'm sure hope next gen will come soon.
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:32AM baby sea tuna said
@DokiDokiBawanga
I don't. I'd love to play BG&E 2, but I am NOT ready for another console cycle.
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I don't. I'd love to play BG&E 2, but I am NOT ready for another console cycle.
Posted: Nov 22nd 2011 11:49AM supersonic124 said
@DokiDokiBawanga
HEY LISTEN, PAL. YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE AN OPINION SO IMA HAVE TO DOWNVOTE YOU. /sarcasm
Seriously guys? He didn't really deserve a downvote/
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HEY LISTEN, PAL. YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE AN OPINION SO IMA HAVE TO DOWNVOTE YOU. /sarcasm
Seriously guys? He didn't really deserve a downvote/
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:14AM ItsameMatt03 said
So probably 2016-ish no joke.
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:16AM P34nk said
Well, why not produce it for PC first then and see how it takes off (like Crysis)? PC platform honestly shouldnt be limited by this unless they want to make a game with Google Map (which I think should still be doable, but will take a long time). They could just make the game enjoyable and packaged properly for today's hardware, and either do sequels or expansion packs/DLCs for additional contents.
Oh wait, this is Ubisoft. Yeah, forget putting it on PC first then...
Oh wait, this is Ubisoft. Yeah, forget putting it on PC first then...
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:19AM hami83 said
I always felt the spaceship was wasted. As soon as I got up there, after shooting the space whale, I tried to go as far as I could.
Still my top game ever though.
Still my top game ever though.
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:20AM Trilancer said
Next gen? Do developers even understand what next gen means?
Its not gonna be like magic, the limitations are there now sure, but next gen means you have to spend millions to get the benifit.
Team Bendi went bankrupt this gen, and SEGA was close to it last gen with shenmu.
Even if next gen comes, not everybody is gonna go out to buy that $600 system so that 2 high end games are released every year, one bankrupting a company (wishing for Capcorn to draw the irst straw).
I dunno know where I'm going with this....I'm sure some replies will provide shoulders to lean on
Its not gonna be like magic, the limitations are there now sure, but next gen means you have to spend millions to get the benifit.
Team Bendi went bankrupt this gen, and SEGA was close to it last gen with shenmu.
Even if next gen comes, not everybody is gonna go out to buy that $600 system so that 2 high end games are released every year, one bankrupting a company (wishing for Capcorn to draw the irst straw).
I dunno know where I'm going with this....I'm sure some replies will provide shoulders to lean on
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:29AM nerdydesi1 said
@Trilancer The next-gen has to come eventually. Yes, it is too bad that game development costs have skyrocketed in the last few years. It seems like many could not afford a next-gen in the near future, developers nor consumers.
I find it interesting how Nvidia and ATI keep churning out more powerful GPUs for the PC like clockwork, when they probably aren't even needed. Current high-end PCs now probably have GPUs as powerful already as a next-gen console, just not being utilized.
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I find it interesting how Nvidia and ATI keep churning out more powerful GPUs for the PC like clockwork, when they probably aren't even needed. Current high-end PCs now probably have GPUs as powerful already as a next-gen console, just not being utilized.
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:34AM Faceless Troll said
@nerdydesi1 Probably because most people aren't going to shell out money for the latest high-end GPU as soon as it's available. So guess which demographic game devs are going to target?
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Posted: Sep 30th 2011 12:13PM nerdydesi1 said
@Faceless Troll I realize that. That's why I'm puzzled as to why they keep releasing new GPUs all the time when the game industry focuses on the consoles, most PC games are console ports, and console hardware isn't going to be replaced anytime soon. I guess for some of us crazy PC elitists that want to play Arkham City at 5000x2000 at 120fps. XD
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Posted: Sep 30th 2011 12:29PM Faceless Troll said
@nerdydesi1 Videogames aren't the only things people require a high end GPU for you know.
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Posted: Sep 30th 2011 12:33PM mrantimatter said
@nerdydesi1
They do it because their business model depends on yearly releases. Enough enthusiasts buy the high end to justify it, but I bet their real money is in the lower end products they ship to folks like dell/apple/etc.
Games on the PC rarely make good use of it though, because updates come so rapidly. there seems to be very little optimization on pc games as a result, compared to console games.
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They do it because their business model depends on yearly releases. Enough enthusiasts buy the high end to justify it, but I bet their real money is in the lower end products they ship to folks like dell/apple/etc.
Games on the PC rarely make good use of it though, because updates come so rapidly. there seems to be very little optimization on pc games as a result, compared to console games.
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 12:35PM Faceless Troll said
@mrantimatter If you're buying a new high-end GPU you're probably some sort of design professional that actually needs the power. I doubt "enthusiasts" make up a significant enough chunk of the market to justify new cards.
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Posted: Sep 30th 2011 2:23PM Courtney said
@Faceless Troll
There are many reasons to develop the high end GPUs, some of which have already been described here.
Another reason is the prestige/advertising/brand factor. If Nvidia releases a new GPU that gets a lot of popular press in the PC gaming community because of it's raw power, that's still boosts Nvidia's overall image in people's eyes. You may not be able to afford a $600 graphics card, but when you're ready to buy a $200 one, the quality of Nvidia's high end may sway you.
Also don't forget that the architecture of today's high end will be the platform that common graphics chips will be built on in 2-3 years. They would be developing this high end stuff anyways. They actually have a great model where they get to release hardware to people who are really going to push it to the edge and gain terabytes of data about performance and issues prior to mass producing millions of midrange cards based on the same tech.
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There are many reasons to develop the high end GPUs, some of which have already been described here.
Another reason is the prestige/advertising/brand factor. If Nvidia releases a new GPU that gets a lot of popular press in the PC gaming community because of it's raw power, that's still boosts Nvidia's overall image in people's eyes. You may not be able to afford a $600 graphics card, but when you're ready to buy a $200 one, the quality of Nvidia's high end may sway you.
Also don't forget that the architecture of today's high end will be the platform that common graphics chips will be built on in 2-3 years. They would be developing this high end stuff anyways. They actually have a great model where they get to release hardware to people who are really going to push it to the edge and gain terabytes of data about performance and issues prior to mass producing millions of midrange cards based on the same tech.
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 3:14PM Crayola Q Pants ESQ said
@nerdydesi1
And they've got to do the initial research and manufacturing to be able to release a high end GPU in the first place, if they want to be able to do a mid-level (and hence profitable) card in the future.
Ultimately, you could ask the same question of CPU and Harddisk manufactures as well.. just like the graphics card manufactures they're always going to have a high end product which contrasts their mid-range consumer products. As a new high end product comes out the old one becomes the new mid range
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And they've got to do the initial research and manufacturing to be able to release a high end GPU in the first place, if they want to be able to do a mid-level (and hence profitable) card in the future.
Ultimately, you could ask the same question of CPU and Harddisk manufactures as well.. just like the graphics card manufactures they're always going to have a high end product which contrasts their mid-range consumer products. As a new high end product comes out the old one becomes the new mid range
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:21AM Tinkus said
So cut out the consoles and release it on PC first. Then port it to consoles when they catch up.
Worked for Crysis.
Worked for Crysis.
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:30AM nerdydesi1 said
@Tinkus I think their worried of the jealousy from console gamers that they will miss out on the game when its launched as a "PC exclusive". They'd rather launch it simultaneous on all platforms, or what will likely happen, consoles first and delay the PC version by at least a few months.
: (
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: (
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:27AM SmashZilla said
I know this wait sounds bad but I can't count the times I read from my fellow Joystiqers
"Boy can't wait for this!" and then "Well shucks! There are too many games coming out. Can't buy BG&E2 right now."
Save now......you have no excuse.
"Boy can't wait for this!" and then "Well shucks! There are too many games coming out. Can't buy BG&E2 right now."
Save now......you have no excuse.
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:37AM TheBatman4141 said
@SmashZilla
I'm opening an official BG&E2 savings account right now!
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I'm opening an official BG&E2 savings account right now!
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:40AM Uncle Jesse said
Well, they did a good job conveying the scope of the first game with what they had. It still feels pretty cool when you go to the moon. I bet they could easily make do with the current tech, but they just have to much work to do that they don't want to make it sound like they are delaying it over and over again. They probably have next to nothing done for this game so far. I look forward to whenever it comes out though. I was blown away with the first game when I played it on the GC (for 8 bucks at the time!) and it holds up really well on XBLA/PSN. Still looks and sounds good too, thanks to the art style and voice acting.
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:41AM Hoops said
I can't see Ubisoft bossess thinking it's a good idea to put the money into BGE2 that would be required to achieve that vision. This game is never happening.
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 11:46AM Perfidious Sinn said
I never got to play Beyond Good & Evil until the HD remake, and I'm glad I did. That world is amazingly fleshed out, and it's too good to contain in one game (especially considering that huge sequel hook in the end!)
If this sequel ever sees the light of day, Ubisoft's already got my money.
If this sequel ever sees the light of day, Ubisoft's already got my money.
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 12:01PM dtrain1183 said
And the wait continues
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 12:10PM bm111 said
Don't get me wrong, I like me some BG&E, but it was by no means a large game. The overworld was a big flat lake that takes you a while to cross sure, but there was hardly any detail, and the actual playable areas, all combined, hardly make up anything I'd call "large" either. The single city in the game, with all the cars and stuff going by? Only had a tiny area you could actually go to.
The scope of the world was mostly implied in BG&E. It'd be cool if they could actually fill some of it in, this time.
The scope of the world was mostly implied in BG&E. It'd be cool if they could actually fill some of it in, this time.
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 12:31PM UnnDunn said
It's not a case of *IF* I buy this game, but rather how fast I can click the Preorder button
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 12:47PM (Unverified) said
i call bullshit on ubisoft, this is a kids game lets get real here. how much could you possibly put into that it ends up in used section of gamestop by the end of the week of launch.
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 12:55PM Smash Bro said
Beyond Good & Evil 2 screams Wii U, from it being a next generation console, to Nintendo and Ubisoft's newfound bro-ness, to U Tablet functionality like using it as a camera.
Make it happen, Ubisoft!
Make it happen, Ubisoft!
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 1:06PM neocloud61 said
This is just an exuse.
All waiting for the next gen is going to do is let the title languish in vaporware hell.
If they actually do try to develop it for a new console, one of two scenarios is likely.
1. They try to develop it to be a game in the beginning of the console's life-span. This will mean that the developers don't have proper experience in writing code for the new technology and the game will be a mess with loads of performance issues.
2. They decide to wait until they have more experience with the console, at which point they forget all about the project, lose funding for it, or get too wrapped up in another project. Some time after this, they'll claim that they want to make it happen but they need to wait for NEXT gen to do it. By that time, people will be reading the article from their neural uplink to the hive-mind and thinking. "What's beyond good and evil?'
All waiting for the next gen is going to do is let the title languish in vaporware hell.
If they actually do try to develop it for a new console, one of two scenarios is likely.
1. They try to develop it to be a game in the beginning of the console's life-span. This will mean that the developers don't have proper experience in writing code for the new technology and the game will be a mess with loads of performance issues.
2. They decide to wait until they have more experience with the console, at which point they forget all about the project, lose funding for it, or get too wrapped up in another project. Some time after this, they'll claim that they want to make it happen but they need to wait for NEXT gen to do it. By that time, people will be reading the article from their neural uplink to the hive-mind and thinking. "What's beyond good and evil?'
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 1:11PM ch3burashka said
I am ABSOLUTELY willing to wait until the next consoles to see BG&E2 if it's all they say it is. However, either it will be a launch game, and with the passing years it will be obvious that they didn't use the hardware to its utmost potential because they hadn't discovered all the ins and outs of the hardware, or it will take another few years *after* the console launches, which is grueling in itself.
A Wii U version would be interesting to see, but I would like to see it in 4K resolution, assuming that's what it'll be for the next consoles. Also, from what Ancel says, he needs something bigger, better, more badass than what the current consoles have to offer, and seeing as how the Wii U will be on par/slightly better than the current consoles, I'm guessing we'll have to wait for the Xbox 720 and th PS4.
A Wii U version would be interesting to see, but I would like to see it in 4K resolution, assuming that's what it'll be for the next consoles. Also, from what Ancel says, he needs something bigger, better, more badass than what the current consoles have to offer, and seeing as how the Wii U will be on par/slightly better than the current consoles, I'm guessing we'll have to wait for the Xbox 720 and th PS4.
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 1:27PM Cranky Penguin said
I think the next gen of consoles will crash and burn. Everyone needed to get a PS3 or X360 in the last few years to go with their new HDTV but TV technology won't be going to higher resolutions for a long time.
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 1:39PM nerdydesi1 said
@Cranky Penguin What does a TV have to do with it? People used SDTVs for several generations of consoles, ie. pre-NES all the way to Gamecube.
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Posted: Sep 30th 2011 1:27PM JonahStein said
I'm going back to Hillys, going back to Hillys, going back to Hillys... Man, I don't think so!
For real though, I will gladly wait (as much as that pains me to say) for Ancel and Ubisoft to make the game that needs to be made.
For real though, I will gladly wait (as much as that pains me to say) for Ancel and Ubisoft to make the game that needs to be made.
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 1:30PM iceveiled said
Umm...I know plenty of current gen games that take place on multiple worlds. Nice excuse though, Ubisoft.
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 2:30PM captplut9465 said
@iceveiled
I agree, I didn't hear anything that couldn't be done on PS3/360 right now.
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I agree, I didn't hear anything that couldn't be done on PS3/360 right now.
Posted: Sep 30th 2011 1:39PM Axcalibur said
If Ubisoft turns this game into a launch title for Wii U, PS4, or Xbox 720 (or whatever Sony and Microsoft choose to call their consoles) - then I can happily wait. It'll be nice to have a solid 3rd party game to launch a console with - and since Ubisoft usually churns out turds for launch games (Red Steel anyone?) then this will be a pleasant change of pace.
If Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo is reading this - understand this - Beyond Good and Evil 2 could potentially be a system seller if it's a launch title - if either one of you can secure exclusivity rights from Ubisoft, you will benefit greatly. In exchange for said rights - make sure Ubisoft gets everything they need to make this game the success it can be!
If Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo is reading this - understand this - Beyond Good and Evil 2 could potentially be a system seller if it's a launch title - if either one of you can secure exclusivity rights from Ubisoft, you will benefit greatly. In exchange for said rights - make sure Ubisoft gets everything they need to make this game the success it can be!








