After speculation surfaced regarding a potential unannounced Rayman remake, Ubisoft has officially announced that it is indeed working on a new project tied to the beloved franchise. While the French gaming giant did not specify whether this project would be a remake, it acknowledged that it has entered “an exploration phase on the Rayman brand.” This revelation follows news that the development team responsible for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has been reassigned to other initiatives within the company.
A New Rayman Project Is in Its ‘Early Stages’
In a statement to Kotaku on Wednesday, Ubisoft confirmed the existence of the untitled Rayman project and indicated that further details will be revealed in the future. “We are pleased to confirm that Ubisoft Montpellier and Ubisoft Milan have recently initiated an exploration phase on the Rayman brand,” a representative from Ubisoft stated. “The project is still in its early stages, and we will share more details later.”
Ubisoft Montpellier, which developed Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, released on January 18, is at the forefront of this new venture. This announcement came shortly after reports indicated that the Montpellier team had been dispersed and redirected to other assignments.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Team Disbanded
French news outlet Origami reported on Tuesday that despite receiving favorable reviews, sales of The Lost Crown did not meet Ubisoft’s projections, prompting the studio to explore different directions. It was also mentioned that the Montpellier team had proposed a sequel, although this pitch was ultimately declined by the company.
Ubisoft partially corroborated this information in a statement to Eurogamer, acknowledging that many developers from Montpellier were reassigned to other projects “that would benefit from their expertise.” While specifics about the sequel to The Lost Crown were not disclosed, the company expressed enthusiasm for future Prince of Persia experiences.
A positive review from Gadgets 360 praised Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown as a “ridiculously fun and surprisingly challenging” platformer, indicating it could pave the way for subsequent titles in the franchise.
Ubisoft Montpellier Moved to Other Ubisoft Projects
Following the confirmation from Ubisoft, Insider Gaming reported that developers from Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown had been redirected to three new projects. Notably, a majority of the team is now working on Beyond Good and Evil 2, while 12 developers are involved in the upcoming Ghost Recon installment, referred to internally as “Project Ovr.” Additionally, a similar number of Ubisoft Montpellier personnel have been assigned to what is described as “Project Steambot,” a Rayman remake being developed at Ubisoft Milan.
In its communication with Kotaku, Ubisoft also confirmed that Michel Ancel, the original creator of the Rayman franchise, has been brought on board as a consultant for the new project. Ancel’s return garners attention due to previous controversies; in 2020, he left Ubisoft amid an investigation into claims regarding a challenging workplace environment and allegations of bullying.
As for whether the upcoming Rayman project will be a remake, Ubisoft has not yet provided clarity on this matter. The most recent mainline title in the Rayman series, Rayman Legends, was developed by Ubisoft Montpellier and originally launched in 2013 across multiple platforms, including PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, and PlayStation Vita.
