After almost two decades of development limbo, Ubisoft’s long-awaited Beyond Good & Evil 2 has received a rare, official nod that it is still being worked on. In a candid post shared on social media, lead writer and associate narrative director Rik Godwin confirmed that he has spent the past several months contributing to the project in a support and consultant capacity, writing that he is “allowed to say this, I checked.” The statement, spotted by IGN and shared with Ubisoft’s permission, arrives after years of sporadic reassurances from the French studio and offers the gaming community its most concrete confirmation yet that the sequel to the 2003 cult classic is not dead.
A Decade-and-a-Half of Development Hell
The road to Beyond Good & Evil 2 has been anything but straightforward. Since its initial unveiling, the project has generated a series of notable moments, from a flashy E3 cinematic trailer to a partnership with Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s production company, Hit Record, which allowed artists to submit works for potential use in the game. The studio’s commitment to the title reached a surreal peak in 2022, when Beyond Good & Evil 2 overtook Duke Nukem Forever in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest game in development. That distinction, and the subsequent flurry of activity in January 2023, only reinforced the game’s reputation as a monument to patience.
Since then, Ubisoft has continued to periodically insist that the project remains in development, with its latest reassurance arriving in January of this year. Godwin’s post now adds a new dimension to that narrative, moving beyond vague studio statements to a direct admission from someone who has been actively involved. While the exact nature of his contributions and the current state of the game remain unclear, the developer’s transparency marks a meaningful shift in how the project is being discussed.
“Odd sort of non-announcement but for the past few months I’ve been working on Beyond Good & Evil 2 in a support/consultant role. I am allowed to say this, I checked.”
Rik Godwin, Lead Writer and Associate Narrative Director
The reaction from the community has been one of cautious optimism mixed with disbelief. For many longtime fans, the confirmation that the game is still being touched up is a welcome sign after years of uncertainty, even if it falls short of a full announcement. The technical reality is that Beyond Good & Evil 2 has never been fully released, meaning the work Godwin and his colleagues are doing likely involves refining existing assets and narrative elements rather than building from scratch. This support role suggests the project has reached a stage where incremental progress is possible, even if a definitive release date remains elusive.
Looking Ahead
As of now, Ubisoft has not provided a concrete release window or additional details about the game’s current development status. Godwin’s post serves primarily as a morale boost for the fanbase, confirming that the project is not abandoned despite the lengthy lull in updates. Whether this marks the beginning of a more substantial push toward completion, or simply another chapter in the game’s long and winding history, remains to be seen.
For those who have waited nearly 19 years, the message is clear: the sequel is still alive, and there is still hope on the horizon. Whether Beyond Good & Evil 2 will eventually emerge from its development mire as a fully realized title remains uncertain, but Godwin’s willingness to speak publicly is a promising sign that the project still has life within it. Until Ubisoft delivers a more definitive update, the community will continue to hold onto the belief that Jade, the game’s beloved protagonist, will one day return to the screen.
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