There has been a lot of rumours and reports flying around about a possible BGE sequel since it's release, so it's hard to keep a track of it all, but I'll try to sum it up.

DISCLAIMER: The following is my own belives of what happend, and are in large parts pure speculation.

Beyond Good & Evil was released in the end of 2003, and the development team went on starting with BGE2 right afterwards. Although, as you all know, the game was a commercial failure, it draw the attention of Peter Jackson himself, who selected Mr. Ancel and his team for King Kong. BGE2 was dropped and they started working on King Kong, which was released in the end of 2005. Being as it was, Mr. Ancel and his team did not pick up on BGE2 but instead started with Rayman Raving Rabbids, which was originally intended to be a free-roaming platformer. After E3 2006, however, the development team switched focus to a mini-game format based around the Wii, and since then Mr. Michel Ancel has been notably absent.

The above part I think most of us agree upon. But what happend next?

According to a Ubisoft press release, Mr. Ancel went to Ubisoft Bulgaria to finish the PC version of RRR, reasons unknown. After some delay, RRR for PC was released in March 2007.

After that, it's a total blank. I think one can assume that he is working on some project, right? Let's see... Ubisoft has confirmed two new unannounced titles in existing franchises being in development. Prince of Persia 4 is most surely one of them, but what is the second? Could it be what Mr. Ancel is working on? If so, what? Rayman? Or perhaps, Beyond Good & Evil 2?

IMHO, that's what I think. Please correct me if I'm wrong on something.

I suppose all we can do at the moment is hope and pray that it's BG&E 2 he's working on...

BREAKING NEWS!!!
Michel Ancel did an interview in this months issue of nintendo power, most of the questions were stupid, but one response caught my eye in-particular.

they ask a question about story telling vs gameplay. and Ancel responds in paragraph two: I am currently working on a game that means a lot to me, where the foundation is immersion and a sense of incredible journey.

sounds like BG&E to me. he always describes it as being close to his heart and such.

Hey all-
saw this and thought it was very interesting:

http://softrockhallelujah.blogspot.com/2007/11/november-first-things.html

For anyone who doesn't know, SurferGirl is a game industry insider, and her blog regularly covers topics ranging from canceled games to industry politics. I read another game industry blog called 'Game Set Watch', and since SurferGirl is a reliable source of 'dirt' Game Set Watch occasionally mentions some of her revelations. As you can see, on her post for November 1st she reveals that "Ubisoft Montpelier is working on Beyond Good & Evil 2". I understand if people are skeptical, but, since I've followed her blog in the past, I feel fairly confident that this is the real deal. Also, here's the Game Set Watch story:

http://www.gamese****ch.com/2007/11/gamesetroundup_surfer_girls_la.php

Anyway, I was pretty excited, so I just wanted to share. Can't wait...

Edit: The message boards seem to think that Game Set Watch is a dirty word when I put the words together, so if you'd like to look at the link, you'll have to copy the link into your web browser and change 'gamese****ch' to 'game set watch' <-- w/o spaces. Sorry.

Hey weezer, don't double-post.

Anyway, there has been some recent development, excluding rumours. This is fact: Michel Ancel stated in an interview for Nintendo Power that he's currently working on a game that means a lot to him...

Sounds like BGE2 to me.

Source: http://gonintendo.com/?p=28652

Why working of BG&E2 in secret ?
Why you think so? What benefit has Michel Ancel (Ubisoft) from such position?

I particularly like this statement from Ancel:

quote:

I really hope that Jade will continue to keep her values and her personality.

This is the best indicator yet.

It's quite refreshing to see new rumors pop up, as it lights a new flicker of hope. I'm still awaiting an official announcement, but here's to hoping for BG&E2 on the Wii!

So now we have positive confirmation that Michel Ancel is still alive? And suspicion that he is working on BG&E2?

Let me break up his statements and examine them piece by piece:

quote:

I am currently working on a game that means a lot to me

First of all, this means nothing to us. What lead game developers work on games that DON'T mean anything to them? (besides for some of the ones at EA of course)

quote:

where the foundation is immersion

Possible BG&E...

quote:

and a sense of incredible journey

hmm... This piece is interesting to me. If his next game is BG&E, then I wonder what the "incredible journey" is going to be... I wouldn't quite describe the first one as an "incredible journey."

quote:

I really hope that Jade will continue to keep her values and her personality

What this sounds like to me is that Ancel might be in a bit of a battle with Ubi's marketing people over the direction of a possible BG&E sequel.

BG&E needs a sequel. But don't automatically expect that it will be good.

One thing is for sure though: Everyone keep a lookout for an announcement at E3 08! That seems about the right time for an announcement if they have already started work on their "next project." Then again, we may hear something even sooner.

If BG&E2 is ever confirmed, then I think my head will explode.

Its been stated in the past that BG&E2 would have taken place over several different planets, this could be the "incredible journey" he referred to.

At last some good news. I really hope that Ancel's new story will be even better than the one from first BGE.

http://z6.invisionfree.com/BGE2_Revolution/index.php?showtopic=1220

Maybe even at VGL Montreal. Lets not forget how widely known that youtube video is of the Spanish Bar song.

I'd say it's either BGE or Rayman 4 still. I remember when he even said that Rayman 4 was in development, and in that video, he said it was important to him too...


Edit:

May I suggest you heed UbiRazz' advice and get your facts straight.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bitebug2003,

quote:

Originally posted by Mur_man_sk:
Why working of BG&E2 in secret ?
Why you think so? What benefit has Michel Ancel (Ubisoft) from such position?

Because the way the industry works. In most cases, by the time any announcements are made the game is almost finished.

Some new of rumors :
"A recent rumor suggests that Michel Ancel, creator of Rayman, has been given the green light to continue the story of Jade in a Beyond Good & Evil sequel. Ancel had high hopes for his new world and characters, but even though the game met critical acclaim, it was a retail flop. The Ubisoft game designer was apparently upset when the publisher made the call that Raving Rabbids become a party game full of minis instead of a true sequel in the Rayman series. This led to his eventual haggling with the company that they either allow him to make BG&E2 or say so long to his presence."

From http://www.play-nintendo.com/playnintendo/content.php?content_id=1396

Interesting...

If your talking about his 'untitled project' I think it could be a sequel to BG&E.