Ubisoft is considering a reboot of the Rayman franchise, according to a company representative who spoke with Digital Trends following earlier speculation about a possible series remake.
A team from Ubisoft Montpellier, many of whom recently contributed to Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, has joined forces with Ubisoft Milan to explore new gaming projects. Ubisoft Milan previously developed the Mario + Rabbids games, where Rayman made an appearance in the recently released Rayman in the Phantom Show DLC.
Currently, the project is in its initial development phase. “We are excited to share that Ubisoft Montpellier and Ubisoft Milan have embarked on an exploration phase concerning the Rayman brand. As it stands, the project is still in its nascent stages, and we will provide more updates as they become available,” the representative stated.
Fawzi Mesmar, who took on the position of VP of editorial in 2021 and had been working on Beyond Good & Evil 2, is involved in the project. Additionally, Michel Ancel, the original creator of the Rayman series, is serving as a consultant “to maintain consistency within the universe.” Ancel was the director of Beyond Good & Evil 2 before he departed from the gaming industry in 2020 to focus on a wildlife sanctuary. Reports from Kotaku revealed that Ancel’s departure occurred amidst an investigation surrounding his “toxic management style.”
Ubisoft’s announcement follows reports of a dedicated effort to develop a Rayman remake with the team behind The Lost Crown. Digital Trends confirmed that most of the Montpellier developers originally assigned to the Metroidvania project have transitioned to other initiatives. Insider Gaming asserts that their current endeavors include work on Beyond Good & Evil 2, a new installment in the Ghost Recon series, and the anticipated Rayman remake.
The Rayman series holds a longstanding legacy at Ubisoft Montpellier, dating back to the original release in 1995. The latest prominent title in the series, Rayman Legends, debuted in 2013. Over the last decade, the Rabbids have taken center stage in various spinoffs, such as the Mario + Rabbids games.
