@PC Gamer Apparently Beyond Good & Evil 2 is still in development and has a new lead writer.

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As for what it means for Beyond Good and Evil 2, that's anyone's guess at this point. The hiring of a new lead writer is the closest thing to a real sign of life we've seen in years (and the Ubisoft rep noted that the company is hiring for other positions at its Montpellier studio (opens in new tab), which is working on the game), but it's also easy to view it as a sign that the whole thing is mired and may well be starting over. That's obviously not a great place to be after 15 years of supposed work.

At the same time, well, does it really matter? Even if development is being completely rebooted, what's the loss? Beyond Good and Evil 2 barely exists as a concept in the public consciousness, much less an actual game in development, and it's not as if there was a realistic expectation of a release sometime within the next couple of years—or, quite frankly, even beyond that.

DSOGaming reports on a rumour that Beyond Good & Evil 2 is in development hell.

Henderson claims that the game lacks a creative direction, something that got even worse when Michael Ancel left Ubisoft. Not only that, but its development team fears that Ubisoft may actually cancel the game.

Beyond Good and Evil 2 was the spiritual successor to the cult classic, and a prequel that will transport players into a profoundly multicultural world. The game aims to capture the spirit of the original with “grandiose decors and intense dramas that play out across a vast universe.“

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Thanks Couchpotato!

IGN reports on a Q1 earnings report question about Beyond Good & Evil 2 which confirms it is still being worked on and also suggests it will be quite some time before release.

The prequel/sequel to the 2003 title got a rare mention today in Ubisoft's Q1 earnings, with Ubisoft simply listing it as part of its plans for "expanding premium offering over the coming years." This went almost entirely unremarked upon during the subsequent earnings call, until a Jefferies spokesperson asked to be permitted a "final fanboy question," asking if the mention of the game meant it might be appearing over the horizon, maybe for fiscal 2024."That's a good try, Ken," replied CFO Frederick Duguet. "We've progressed well with Beyond Good & Evil 2, but it's too early to tell you at this stage."

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Twinfinite report on what was shown of Beyond Good and Evil 2 at E3. There are screenshots at the link.

The developers then showcased a video showing off the art created as part of the partnership with HitRecord. It includes covers of albums that will be collectible in the game. The partnership will be extended and details will be announced over the next few weeks. Artwork submitted in early times of the partnership will be reconsidered in the future, while new projects will be issued.

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Thanks Farflame!

Space Monkey Report #4 answers some community questions for Beyond Good and Evil 2.

During our latest livestream, we mentioned we would be collecting community questions from the livestream chat and from (almost) anywhere you would be posting them using #AskBGE.

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We have now gathered answers from the team, so without further ado, here are some extra details on what you’ve been wondering regarding Beyond Good and Evil 2!

When is Beyond Good and Evil 2 coming out? (from… everyone!)

The most common question we receive… and still one that we're not yet ready to answer. We really hope, though, that through the Space Monkey Program and our dev updates - videos, articles, livestreams, demos, etc. - we've been able to show you that the BGE2 team is hard at work developing Ubisoft's greatest space opera game ever! Additionally, involving the community is also key to us. We value your feedback on everything we share, and your creations could even appear in the game, thanks to the hard work of the people at HitRecord (more on how to participate here, if you are interested!).

Will we be getting a list of hybrid animal species? (from Limetail on Discord)

We have shared a lot of our in-progress research, particularly during Space Monkey Report #4. We're still working on the final list, but you can be sure that monkeys and pigs (displayed in our two trailers) will be in the final game. Other hybrids appearing more briefly in our trailers will also make it to the final game.

What other cultures do you plan on including in the game? (from Limetail on Discord)

Indian and Chinese cultures will have major roles in the game, but looking at the Legendary Characters shown in our trailers could help you guess what other cultures we want to explore in the final game…

Will there be underground cultures (such as street racing or niche music scenes) as well as nightlife in the cities? (Folezicle, Discord)

The answer is yes: we will explore underground cultures in the game. The largest will be the one carried by Space Pirates, but also by Hybrids, who have their own beliefs and myths.

Will there be underwater or subterranean exploration/mission areas? (ShastaSummit, Twitter)

It will definitely be possible to fly in underground galleries on the planets of System 3, especially when exploring the giant mines where Hybrid slaves work.

Will our race or human/hybrid status change our interactions with NPCs? (ketouki, Twitter)

Yes, we want the World around you to react to your visual identity. Depending on whether you play as a human or as a hybrid Space Pirate Captain, you will not be welcomed the same way in different places.

Do clones age? The Wiki needs this vital information! (Twitch)

Yes, clones do age. Uma, in our second trailer, is a prime example of a clone who aged. But keep in mind that clones may age in ways that are specific to them…

How does cloning work in this world and is the entire population made of clones? Are people still infertile during at the time BGE2 takes place? (Caracal, Discord)

Clones cannot give birth. Human beings purposely created them with this limitation. Since clones were the only ones to ever reach System 3, the whole population of this planetary system is made of clones who were created in cloning centers.

Are the DomZ going to be in the game? (Escope12, Discord)

It's a little too soon to talk about that, but we can definitely confirm that the Alpha Sections will be back in BGE2. Keep in mind that, since this is a prequel, we want to explore the origins of many elements from the first game (as many as possible, actually).

Will we always need an internet connection even if we're playing BGE2 solo? (o_gilgamesh, Twitter)

Beyond Good and Evil 2 is an online, multiplayer game with a rich co-op and seamless experience. As such, the game will only be playable with an internet connection in order to have seamless navigation, receive dynamic updates, and play with friends (which is certainly better when you're playing as a Space Pirate!). The choice to play co-op, however, remains yours to make, so playing BGE2 solo is absolutely possible if you're into that lone Space Pirate kinda thing...

From Emile and Gab's speech before the demo, it seems like there's a lot of lore in the game, so how does this fit with the multiplayer aspect of the game? Would you say this is a very story-driven multiplayer game? (@joanes12, Twitter)

We want our game to have a very deep and detailed world. As a player, you can expect to be fully immersed in this world, and the more you'll explore it the more you'll understand how it works. Narration will be a constant, carried by this rich world and the creatures who populate it. Playing the game solo or with friends will expose you in the same way to this world and all its narrative elements.

Is there a limit to the distance between players in coop (how far can they go apart)? (Twitch)

Technically, there's absolutely no limit to the distance between different players in the game, and that was made possible thanks to our engine, Voyager.

Wccftech reports on new gameplay video for Beyond Good & Evil 2.

Beyond Good and Evil 2 is finally starting to take shape. Ubisoft and creator Michel Ancel have made a lot of big promises about their online open-world adventure, but how the game would actually play has remained murky. Well, Ubisoft has just released a meaty new BG&E2 demo video, which provides our most substantial look yet at the game’s combat, as well as other elements like character augments, your Spyglass scanner, and co-op. Check out a quick overview trailer, below.

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Thanks Farflame!

@DSOGaming Beyond Good and Evil 2 has its first gameplay video and a new cinematic trailer.

Ubisoft has released the first official pre-alpha gameplay video and a new cinematic trailer for Beyond Good and Evil 2. Beyond Good and Evil 2 is the spiritual successor to the cult classic, and a prequel that will transport players into a profoundly multicultural world. The game aims to capture the spirit of the original with “grandiose decors and intense dramas that play out across a vast universe.“

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Gamingbolt reports on a livestream for Beyond Good & Evil 2.

Out of the blue, Ubisoft has announced a livestream on May 3rd for Beyond Good and Evil 2. You’ll probably remember the massive open world title being re-confirmed at last year’s E3. You probably won’t. Regardless, the livestream, titled the “Space Monkey Report”, will be taking place at 9 AM PDT/12 PM ET/5 PM UK time on Twitch and YouTube.

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Thanks Farflame!

Beyond Good & Evil 2 has an update on ship and crew.

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The Beyond Good and Evil 2 development team is hard at work bringing System 3 to life. Hear about what they’re working on right now, how it’s coming along, and how you can be a part of the creation process by joining the Space Monkey Program.
#BGE2
https://www.facebook.com/beyondgoodan...
https://www.youtube.com/UbisoftUS

Farflame spotted seven quick facts about Beyond Good & Evil 2 on Cultured Vultures:

Beyond Good and Evil 2: 7 Quick Facts You Should Know

A game of almost startling ambition, Beyond Good and Evil 2 is promising a lot of wild things.
They say good things come to those who wait. If you saw Michel Ancel’s reaction to the long-awaited unveiling of his Beyond and Good Evil 2 at E3 2017, you should know that a lot of patience goes a long way. There were many reveals over the three day bonanza of jumbled “exclusive” terminology, awkward YouTuber appearances, and vague promises, but not much else on display caught the attention quite like the almost mythical sequel to a cult classic getting its first exhibition after so many years of waiting.

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1. Beyond Good and Evil 2 will be a prequel
2. Beyond Good and Evil 2 will feature character customisation
3. Crew dynamics will be important in Beyond Good and Evil 2
4. There will be no loading times in Beyond Good and Evil 2
5. Beyond Good and Evil 2 features procedural generation
6. Beyond Good and Evil 2 will have online co-op
7. Beyond Good and Evil 2 will have plenty of RPG elements

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@PCGamesN Beyond Good & Evil 2 is keeping the camera from the first game.

Sometimes you can work out how far along a game is just by observing the demeanour of its developers. Watch Michel Ancel gush about Beyond Good & Evil 2 and it's clear the game he's directing is only now entering production. Far from the feature lockdown and excruciating trade-offs of beta, right now it's a big ball of potential - and the giddiness of its creator is palpable.

Ancel says Beyond Good & Evil 2 is going to have planets, and outer space, and spaceships. It's going to have smaller ships that go inside those spaceships, and huge procedurally generated cities, and a monkey who swears a lot. It's a maximalist sequel that fills in the gaps between everything its predecessor attempted to do. Which makes it all the more important that the game, for all its ambition, is able to find focus.

To that end, Beyond Good & Evil 2 is also going to have a camera. It might be small, but it's everything.
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This video explores the engine being used for Beyond Good & Evil 2.

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Creative Director Michel Ancel shows a behind the scenes look at the first in-engine demo shown at E3 2017.

Ubisoft's Michel Ancel talks about Beyond Good & Evil 2:

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Michel Ancel joins Chris Watters to give a scene-by-scene breakdown of the E3 2017 trailer for Beyond Good and Evil 2.

Thanks Farflame!

IGN: Beyond Good and Evil 2 will have more RPG elements than its predecessor:

E3 2017: Beyond Good and Evil 2 Is a Massively Ambitious RPG

Dynamic character storytelling on an interplanetary scale.

I can’t recall how many times during my meeting with the development team of Beyond Good & Evil 2 I thought to myself, “This is impossible.” While the trailer shown at Ubisoft’s E3 conference was more of a development announcement, our post-show meeting was where the concept and true potential of BG&E2 really came into focus. The goal is a seamless multi-planet world populated by dynamically-generated characters, with unique stories being told and optional social interaction throughout. I may have initially scoffed at these ambitious ideas, but by the end of our meeting I was enthralled, not to mention giggling like a child out of sheer amazement at the fact that this could really work.

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