Inside the Turbulent Development of Beyond Good & Evil 2: Michel Ancel Reflects on Ubisoft's Struggles

Beyond Good & Evil 2, the long-awaited sequel to Ubisoft’s acclaimed 2003 action-adventure title, has become infamous for its protracted development cycle.

Announced with much fanfare at previous Ubisoft and Nintendo Direct showcases, the game has seen years of shifting creative direction and internal challenges at its developer, Ubisoft Montpellier.

In a candid discussion, former Ubisoft designer Michel Ancel has provided valuable context on the troubled development of Beyond Good & Evil 2, offering rare insight into the organizational obstacles the team faced. Launched initially as a cult classic for platforms like the Nintendo GameCube, Beyond Good & Evil garnered a passionate fanbase, fueling anticipation for a sequel since its early reveal in 2008.

However, more than a decade later, Beyond Good & Evil 2 remains in development, with no definitive release date announced for platforms such as the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox.

In 2020, Michel Ancel, the original creator, stepped away from both Ubisoft Montpellier and the games industry altogether.

In a recent interview, Ancel addressed longstanding rumors and explained some of the key issues that delayed progress on the sequel. Ancel remarked that, while ambitious projects require passionate teams, they can be derailed by a lack of unified vision.

He explained that the directors involved in Beyond Good & Evil 2 frequently disagreed on the direction of the series, resulting in conflicting goals.

For example, the art director continually pushed for major overhauls, while the game director had a vision for procedurally generated dungeons.

Ancel himself imagined an expansive space adventure, leaving the team divided.

"Passion can be a wonderful driving force," Ancel stated, "but it can also spark conflicts between people with strong opinions." He went on to describe a chaotic management structure, where team members often did not know who had the final say.

Traditionally, a producer would provide clarity and cohesion in such large-scale projects, but in this case, that leadership was missing.

Even Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot traveled to Montpellier in an attempt to bring the team together, but the problems persisted. Addressing reports about his own role, Ancel clarified that he was not overseeing every creative decision on Beyond Good & Evil 2.

He expressed frustration at claims suggesting otherwise, noting, "This is the one project where I never second-guessed a major decision." Ultimately, Ancel attributed the stalled development primarily to disputes among management, emphasizing that there was no singular person to blame.

He acknowledged that several key individuals were eventually replaced to restore balance within the team, though the prolonged turmoil had a clear negative impact on morale and progress.

"These management problems proved damaging for everyone involved," Ancel concluded, "showing that, in game development, ego and high stakes leave much room for improvement in human leadership." Ubisoft has yet to confirm a release window for Beyond Good & Evil 2, but the company regularly reiterates that the project remains in development.

The saga behind its creation serves as a revealing case study of the complexity and risks involved in large-scale game development, even for industry giants like Ubisoft Montpellier.

As fans await further updates, the lessons learned from Beyond Good & Evil 2’s tumultuous journey continue to resonate throughout the gaming industry.

Ubisoft Inside Beyond Beyond Good & Evil 2 Michel Ancel Ubisoft Montpellier Yves Guillemot