Michel Ancel, the celebrated designer behind Rayman and Beyond Good & Evil, has addressed the long and complicated development of Beyond Good & Evil 2, acknowledging his own part in the game's ongoing struggles.
Ancel’s candid reflections provide rare insight into Ubisoft’s management challenges, team dynamics, and the path forward for the highly anticipated sequel, shedding light on a saga that has captivated industry observers for years. In a recent interview with French media outlet Superpouvoir, as reported by VGC, Ancel explained, "Passion is a fantastic driving force, yet it can also spark conflicts among dedicated team members.
For Beyond Good & Evil 2, there were significant problems between managers." Ancel’s comments confirm years of speculation about the turbulent environment at Ubisoft’s Montpellier studio during the sequel’s development. According to Ancel, one difficulty stemmed from frequent changes and disagreements among key staff.
He noted that the art director "frequently wanted to restart creative elements," while the game director "pushed for a procedurally generated dungeon approach" — ideas at odds with Ancel’s vision, and resulting in confusion about leadership and project direction.
"In situations like this, teams can be left unsure of who is in charge or making critical decisions," he told Superpouvoir.
"The producer is meant to bring order, but that wasn’t achieved." The situation escalated enough that Ubisoft co-founder and CEO Yves Guillemot visited the Montpellier office to restore order, but the intervention did not fully resolve underlying issues.
Ancel expressed regret about not taking a stronger, more conciliatory leadership role, stating, "I have my share of responsibility and should have defended the project more, been present, and sought greater unity with the staff." Beyond Good & Evil 2 has faced public scrutiny not only for development delays but also after a 2020 investigative report by French newspaper Libération accused Ancel of toxic leadership.
Ancel responded by cooperating with investigators and rejecting those claims.
Meanwhile, Ubisoft has grappled with wider allegations of misconduct, resulting in the dismissal of several executives and an ongoing shakeup of staff and management practices at major studios. Despite stepping away from Ubisoft in 2020 to focus on wildlife conservation, Ancel has since reconnected with the developer, contributing to a new Rayman project alongside the Montpellier-based team.
Ubisoft reaffirmed the status of Beyond Good & Evil 2 earlier in 2024, following the successful release of Beyond Good & Evil: 20th Anniversary Edition — a remaster of the original cult classic, which featured on the Nintendo GameCube and bolstered hopes for a possible Nintendo Switch release of its sequel in the future. As Beyond Good & Evil 2’s journey continues, Ancel’s acknowledgment of his responsibility and the collective challenges at Ubisoft offers a sobering yet hopeful outlook for fans.
With new management in place and Ubisoft’s commitment to the project reconfirmed, the legacy of one of gaming’s most beloved worlds hangs in the balance, awaiting its long-promised revival.
Ancel’s candid reflections provide rare insight into Ubisoft’s management challenges, team dynamics, and the path forward for the highly anticipated sequel, shedding light on a saga that has captivated industry observers for years. In a recent interview with French media outlet Superpouvoir, as reported by VGC, Ancel explained, "Passion is a fantastic driving force, yet it can also spark conflicts among dedicated team members.
For Beyond Good & Evil 2, there were significant problems between managers." Ancel’s comments confirm years of speculation about the turbulent environment at Ubisoft’s Montpellier studio during the sequel’s development. According to Ancel, one difficulty stemmed from frequent changes and disagreements among key staff.
He noted that the art director "frequently wanted to restart creative elements," while the game director "pushed for a procedurally generated dungeon approach" — ideas at odds with Ancel’s vision, and resulting in confusion about leadership and project direction.
"In situations like this, teams can be left unsure of who is in charge or making critical decisions," he told Superpouvoir.
"The producer is meant to bring order, but that wasn’t achieved." The situation escalated enough that Ubisoft co-founder and CEO Yves Guillemot visited the Montpellier office to restore order, but the intervention did not fully resolve underlying issues.
Ancel expressed regret about not taking a stronger, more conciliatory leadership role, stating, "I have my share of responsibility and should have defended the project more, been present, and sought greater unity with the staff." Beyond Good & Evil 2 has faced public scrutiny not only for development delays but also after a 2020 investigative report by French newspaper Libération accused Ancel of toxic leadership.
Ancel responded by cooperating with investigators and rejecting those claims.
Meanwhile, Ubisoft has grappled with wider allegations of misconduct, resulting in the dismissal of several executives and an ongoing shakeup of staff and management practices at major studios. Despite stepping away from Ubisoft in 2020 to focus on wildlife conservation, Ancel has since reconnected with the developer, contributing to a new Rayman project alongside the Montpellier-based team.
Ubisoft reaffirmed the status of Beyond Good & Evil 2 earlier in 2024, following the successful release of Beyond Good & Evil: 20th Anniversary Edition — a remaster of the original cult classic, which featured on the Nintendo GameCube and bolstered hopes for a possible Nintendo Switch release of its sequel in the future. As Beyond Good & Evil 2’s journey continues, Ancel’s acknowledgment of his responsibility and the collective challenges at Ubisoft offers a sobering yet hopeful outlook for fans.
With new management in place and Ubisoft’s commitment to the project reconfirmed, the legacy of one of gaming’s most beloved worlds hangs in the balance, awaiting its long-promised revival.
