Ubisofthas been having a difficult time recently as many of its larger projects have performed worse than expected, sothe company is turning to an old familiar face to hopefully regain some of its reputation. 2024 hasn’t been Ubisoft’s year asall of its games have financially disappointed, even thoughPrince of Persia: The Lost Crownwasa hit amongst critics. With the companypivoting its release strategyto hopefully bring in a wider audience, it’s also seemingly turning back the clock to remind older fans of one of its classic mascots.
Following reports thata remake of beloved platformerRaymanis in development,Eurogamerconfirmed with Ubisoft that such a project is in early production:
“We are pleased to confirmUbisoft Montpellier and Ubisoft Milan have recently started an exploration phase on the Rayman brand. The project is still in its early stages, and we will share more details later. As creator of the Rayman brand, Michel Ancel is being consulted to ensure consistency within the universe.”
This follows the news that the team behindPrince of Persia: The Lost Crown, who worked at Ubisoft Montpellier, was being disbanded to work on a new project.It’s good to know that some members of the team have been moved over toRaymanwhile others have been folded intoBeyond Good & Evil 2and an unannouncedGhost Recongame.
Rayman’s Return Is Exciting
But is It Enough?
The potential return ofRaymanis undoubtedly exciting for those of a certain generation. The armless (and legless) wonder starred in a trilogy of excellent platformers for the PlayStation One and PlayStation 2 before largely sitting on the sideline after the explosive success of theRaving Rabbidsspinoff. Beyond two fantastic 2D games,Rayman OriginsandRayman Legends, he’s been very quiet over the last decade, having most recently appeared asa DLC character inMario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope.
As interesting as the news is, one can’t help but be skeptical about a newRaymangame, especially if it’s a remake. The first entry in the series hasn’t aged all that well and while it may hit with a nostalgic audience,the character isn’t as relevant to younger players. Given how Ubisoft Montpellier so successfully reimaginedPrince of Persia, players will just have to see if lightning strikes twice.
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Does Anyone Actually Want A New Rayman Game?
While I played a great deal out of the originalRaymantrilogy,I can’t say it’s a franchise that I’m actively rooting for.OriginsandLegendsare both great games, so a remake in that style may excite me more, but sticking with the original format will likely prove a little dull. At this point,Ubisoftdesperately needs a hit and I seriously doubt whetherRayman is the hero to do it.
