Beyond Good & Evil 2 Brings in Writer From Assassin’s Creed Shadows Team

Ubisoft has quietly added another writer to the long-running Beyond Good & Evil 2, signaling that work on the sci-fi fantasy sequel is still very much alive. The studio’s Bordeaux-based lead writer and associate narrative director, Rik Godwin, confirmed via social media this week that he joined the project a few months ago in a support and consultant capacity. The move comes as the game — first announced 18 years ago and re-announced at E3 2016 — remains without a release date, though the arrival of new creative director Fawzi Mesmar has helped steer the project toward a firmer creative direction.

Godwin’s involvement is notable not only for its timing but for the pedigree of the studio he represents. Founded in 2017, Ubisoft Bordeaux has traditionally operated as a support studio across the wider Ubisoft roster, yet it has also led its own high-profile titles, including Assassin’s Creed Mirage. The studio most recently shipped Claws of Awaji, the sole expansion for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Geographically, the arrangement makes sense: the Bordeaux team is lending its expertise to a project led by Ubisoft Montpellier, located to the south, and the cross-pollination of narrative talent between the two houses appears to be a deliberate strategy to keep the sequel moving forward.

Beyond Good & Evil 2

For the many fans who have tracked the game’s notoriously slow progress, this development is a welcome, if understated, sign of continued momentum. The project has gained renewed creative coherence since Mesmar took the helm, and recent work has begun to coalesce around a clearer vision. That sense of direction was further reinforced when the sequel’s characters were given intriguing cameos in the new Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition, a move that hinted the game now had a firm narrative footing to build upon.

Adding to the optimism is the fact that the project survived Ubisoft’s sweeping reshuffle of games, brands, and development studios earlier this year. While several other long-gestating titles fell by the wayside — the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake, we’ll never forget you — Beyond Good & Evil 2 endured, emerging from the restructuring intact and with fresh creative reinforcements.

“Needless to say, I am saddened by the cancellations that has affected my colleagues in other parts of Ubisoft and the industry. I urge everyone — myself included — to offer support whenever and however they can during these times. We remain committed and focused on delivering a remarkable game for our players to enjoy.”

Fawzi Mesmar, Creative Director

Godwin’s confirmation that he had joined the project months ago in a consultant role suggests his contribution is advisory rather than a full-time creative takeover, but even a support-level role can meaningfully sharpen a project’s narrative focus. The broader community reaction has been one of cautious encouragement, with longtime fans interpreting the Bordeaux addition as evidence that the studio is actively investing in the game’s story rather than simply shelving it. The arrival of a writer from a studio currently deep in the Assassin’s Creed franchise also raises the possibility of shared narrative techniques and tone being applied to the sequel’s world.

As with much of the game’s recent history, no concrete release window has been announced, and questions remain about the final shape of the project and whether Ubisoft will ultimately retain the Beyond Good & Evil name. Yet the combination of a dedicated creative director, a fresh wave of narrative support, and survival of the studio’s recent restructuring paints a picture of a project that is, at the very least, being actively cultivated rather than abandoned. Whether these efforts translate into a tangible release date remains to be seen, but the signals so far suggest that the answers to these lingering questions may be closer than they have been in years.