Beyond Good & Evil 2:s kreativa chef tar upp projektets status efter Ubisofts omorganisation

Fawzi Mesmar, the creative director for Beyond Good & Evil 2, has responded to the recent company-wide restructuring at Ubisoft. The changes resulted in multiple game cancellations, studio closures, and layoffs, including a proposal for 200 job losses at the company's Paris headquarters.

Mesmar wrote on LinkedIn to assure followers that the team and the project were not affected by the reorganization. He did express his dismay regarding the impact on his colleagues throughout the wider company. The development of the game, which is led by the team in Montpellier, France, remains an ongoing project within Ubisoft.

"Thank you for everyone who has reached out to me over the past few days in regards to recent news at Ubisoft," Mesmar wrote.

"Myself, my team and our project Beyond Good and Evil 2 are unaffected by the recent changes. I would direct you to the official press release for more information around the latest organisational structure."

Image: Beyond Good and Evil 2 Concept Art

The press release he mentioned detailed a new vision for Ubisoft, splitting the company into five "Creative Houses." These houses group franchises based on genre and audience. Beyond Good & Evil was placed in Creative House 4, alongside other narrative-driven and fantasy series like Anno, Might & Magic, and Rayman. The news that Beyond Good & Evil 2 survives Ubisoft restructuring was a key takeaway for followers of the project. This organizational change, however, also saw the cancellation of other titles.

"Needless to say, I am saddened by the cancellations that has affected my colleagues in other parts of Ubisoft and the industry," Mesmar continued in his post. "I urge everyone — myself included — to offer support whenever and however they can during these times."

He concluded his statement with a message of reassurance for the game's patient fanbase.

"We remain committed and focused on delivering a remarkable game for our players to enjoy."

— Fawzi Mesmar

The development history of Beyond Good & Evil 2 stretches back to 2007, when it began early work with series creator Michel Ancel. The project was later paused while the team focused on other titles. Ubisoft re-announced the game in 2017, showcasing an in-engine concept with space flight and designs for multiple solar systems. The project faced further challenges with the departure of Ancel from Ubisoft and the passing of its subsequent creative lead, Emil Morel. In recent years, development has found a new rhythm. The sequel's characters made cameo appearances in the Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition, and Mesmar was hired as creative director. Despite these developments, a release date for the follow-up has not been announced.

Read also, Ubisoft's share price experienced a significant decline this week following the announcement of a major "reset." The publisher's decision to cancel six games, including the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake, and close two studios caused the stock to drop by 34% in a single day, closing at €4.06. This is the lowest share price for the company since 2011.