Update [24th Oct, 2024 09:20 BST]:
Ubisoft confirmed I city that the studies in Montpellier and Milan began the “research phase” on Rayman brand following rumors about a remake project.
In a brief statement, the company said the following:
“We are pleased to confirm that Ubisoft Montpellier and Ubisoft Milan have recently started the research phase on Rayman brand. The project is still in the early stages and we will share more details later.”
Ubisoft also confirmed the involvement of original creator Michel Ancel, saying, “As the creator of the Rayman brand, Michel Ancel was consulted to ensure consistency within the universe”.
Original article [Wed 23rd Oct, 2024 15:30 BST]:
Just recently, our hearts were collectively broken by the news that Ubisoft has effectively disbanded the team that brought us the magnificent Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, with a statement from the company confirming that staff members have been moved on to other projects.
However, according to a report from Insider gamingapproximately a dozen staff members migrated to a development project currently operating under the code name ‘Project Steamboat’. Take this with a grain of salt, but the report states that this is actually intended to be a remake Rayman.
Originally released in 1995, Rayman spawned a popular platforming franchise for Ubisoft, with the team responsible for The Lost Crown developing arguably the best games in the franchise: Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends.
This new project is reportedly being put together by a team based mostly at Ubisoft Milan, with original Rayman creator Michele Ancel as a consultant. However, Ancel has found himself at the center of some controversy in recent years, following reports of alleged toxic behavior stemming from his leadership at Ubisoft. Since then, he has steadfastly denied such accusations.
Regardless, the prospect of a Rayman remake is certainly exciting, but right now we’re not particularly convinced that Ubisoft will see it through. As for the rest of the Prince of Persia staff, some have reportedly been moved to work on Beyond Good & Evil 2, while others are hard at work on the next Ghost Recon title.
