Closing out Ubisoft’s whirlwind E3 presser this evening was Beyond Good & Evil 2, the long-in-development sequel from Michel Ancel and the team at Ubisoft Montpellier.
It’s real, it has a gritty, M-rated trailer (see above), and it turns out that Ancel’s spacefaring romp is actually a prequel to the 2003 original, one in which players journey to System 3, the “center of interstellar trade and colonization in the Milky Way of the 24th century.” Set within a seamless online playground, it’s fair to say that Beyond Good & Evil 2 is a far cry from the cult original, and it seems that Ancel’s sci-fi title has, in many ways, evolved with the times.
Details of a release window and/or platforms (Nintendo Switch, perhaps?) weren’t disclosed at this early, early stage, which has led to some fans worrying that BGE2 will slip off the radar following tonight’s grand comeback. That doesn’t appear to be the case, though, and if you want a frame-by-frame breakdown of the prequel’s cinematic trailer, Michel Ancel is on-hand to offer a more thorough overview of Beyond Good & Evil 2 via the video below.
Journey to System 3, for the prequel to one of Ubisoft’s most beloved games! Fight alongside unforgettable characters in a stunning new solar system, as you struggle for freedom and the right to determine your own fate among the stars. Play the adventure by yourself or with friends in a vast and seamless online playground.
System 3 has become the center of interstellar trade and colonization in the Milky Way of the 24th century, thanks to the creation of Hybrid slaves. While private enterprises fight over resources and power, the first colonists weave together the rich and diverse spiritual and cultural heritages of Old Earth to give meaning to their existence. In this new era of piracy, we will rise from lowly pirate to legendary captain at the helm of massive star-faring vessels, adventuring alongside crews of colorful characters to fight for freedom and the right to determine our own fate among the stars!
It’s less of a sequel and more of a spiritual successor to the original, then, but take nothing away from Ubisoft’s encore: Beyond Good & Evil 2 is back, and we couldn’t be more excited.