A cult classic is getting a makeover next year. Ubisoft announced today that it’s working on a 20th anniversary rerelease of Beyond Good & Evil that’s expected to launch in early 2024. The news comes after details of the release were posted early to the Xbox store; not only that but Ubisoft also accidentally uploaded an unfinished version of the game to Ubisoft Plus. “This version is not indicative of the final game,” the company says.
As for what the anniversary release will entail, Ubisoft says only that “our commitment to delivering a game that meets the high expectations of our fans is unwavering” and “we’re dedicated to making it an experience that truly honors the legacy of the original.” The now-deleted Xbox listing said that the game would support “4K, 60 fps with improved graphics, controls, and audio, along with brand-new autosave and cross-save features.”
While it’s good news for fans of the beloved sci-fi action / adventure game — which is still available in its original form — it does once again raise questions about what is happening with its sequel. Beyond Good & Evil 2 was first announced in 2008, and at E3 in 2017, I was told by director Michel Ancel (who has since retired) that it was still at “day zero” of the development process. “There’s still a lot of work to do,” he said, “but we now really believe that we’re going to make this game.” Earlier this year, Ubisoft insisted that the sequel is still in development.
As for the 20th anniversary edition, there’s a good chance we’ll see or hear more next week at The Game Awards, which are taking place on December 7th.