It Seems Beyond Good and Evil 2 Is Still Alive at Ubisoft
Ubisoft is still staffing its Beyond Good and Evil 2 team, having just launched a new hiring wave to fill a handful of related positions at its Montpellier studio. In addition to signaling that the game remains in development, one of the new listings suggests the long-delayed project is still on track to feature some form of multiplayer mode, which Ubisoft first hinted at over eight years ago.
More than 17 years have passed since Beyond Good and Evil 2 was first teased at E3 2008. After nearly a decade’s worth of development hell, the project received a cinematic reveal trailer at E3 2017. In 2022, it became the most delayed AAA game of all time, overtaking Duke Nukem Forever, which took 14 years, 1 month, 2 weeks, and 2 days between its first trailer and release. Over the years, Ubisoft has provided sporadic updates on Beyond Good and Evil 2‘s development, reassuring fans and investors alike that the project remains in development.
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Beyond Good and Evil 2 Team Starts New Hiring Wave
One indirect update has recently materialized on Ubisoft’s careers pages, where multiple job openings for the Montpellier-based Beyond Good and Evil 2 team have emerged. They include postings for a Lead Quest Designer, Senior 3D Character Artist, Senior VFX Artist, Technical Sound Designer, and Technical Lead Network Programmer. Several listings were also cross-posted to third-party hiring platforms, such as GameJobs.co. This development marks the first indication that the project is still alive since a report citing company sources claimed Beyond Good and Evil 2 passed an important internal milestone in October 2024.
Current Beyond Good and Evil 2 Job Openings at Ubisoft Montpellier
- Lead Quest Designer
- Technical Sound Designer
- Technical Lead Network Programmer
- Senior 3D Character Artist
- Senior VFX Artist
Beyond Good and Evil 2 Still on Course to Feature Online Multiplayer
A job listing for a Technical Lead Network Programmer suggests the game remains on course to feature some form of multiplayer functionality. While it’s unclear whether the original concept for Beyond Good and Evil 2 included such a feature, the project embraced it no later than summer 2017, when Ubisoft first referenced online multiplayer alongside revealing the game’s cinematic trailer at E3. At the time, the company also said that the prequel will offer players a chance to become space pirates in System 3, indicating that Beyond Good and Evil 2 will feature a much grander scope than its predecessor.
Beyond Good and Evil 2 Multiplayer Is Expected To Be Optional
According to a 2018 Ubisoft FAQ page that’s still live as of today, Beyond Good and Evil 2 multiplayer will be optional, with the game also fully playable solo. While details remain limited, Ubisoft’s mention of a “seamless online playground” suggests some form of drop-in multiplayer functionality may be planned. Several modern titles from the company, including Ghost Recon: Wildlands, feature seamless co-op.
Beyond Good and Evil 2 Is Likely Still Not Close to the Finish Line
While Beyond Good and Evil 2 may still be adhering to its online multiplayer plans, its unusually long development cycle and multiple internal reboots suggest that, if the game eventually materializes, it could differ significantly from Ubisoft’s original vision. As for its potential release window, there are still no concrete signs of a launch, even after 17 years. Outliers excluded, Ubisoft’s AAA marketing timelines have typically fallen in the mid-range compared to industry norms, with most major titles seeing about 12 months between gameplay reveal and release. Therefore, if and when Beyond Good and Evil 2 overcomes its challenges and gets closer to the finish line, Ubisoft is likely to outright say so about a year in advance, potentially even disclosing its (fiscal) year release target in one of its earnings reports, like it commonly does with major titles.
Source: My Nintendo News