Celebrated game designer Michel Ancel, known for Rayman and Beyond Good & Evil, recently discussed the setbacks of his later projects, Beyond Good & Evil 2 (BGE2) and WiLD, in an interview with Superpouvoir.
Beyond Good & Evil 2: A Clash of Visions
Ancel attributes BGE2's difficulties to significant disagreements among key figures at Ubisoft Montpellier. He states:
"On BGE2, there were too many problems between managers. The artistic director wanted to redo everything constantly, the game director wanted to make a game of generated dungeons and I dreamed of a space adventure. We simply could not agree..."
This lack of a unified vision, compounded by ineffective management, led to internal conflict and a lack of clear direction. Ancel stresses that the situation significantly hampered the development team's morale and productivity. He also refutes claims that he alone was responsible for the project's problems.
WiLD: A Story of Missed Opportunities
Ancel's studio, Wild Sheep, developed the PlayStation exclusive WiLD, a survival game. While a playable version existed by 2018, the transition to the PS5, internal changes at Sony, and subsequent events at Ubisoft led to its cancellation. Ancel explains:
"In 2018, we had a very nice playable version, but we took time to upgrade the game on PS5, which slowed down production. On the Sony side, there were big management changes and the game was stopped. ...What a shame!"
He further describes how the project, after returning to Ubisoft, was negatively impacted by internal restructuring and the chaos surrounding other projects. The game was ultimately abandoned, despite a potential offer from Sony to double the budget.
Reflection and the Future
Ancel acknowledges his share of responsibility for the challenges faced by both projects, emphasizing the need for stronger leadership and collaboration. While currently focused on environmental conservation, he doesn't entirely rule out a return to game development, under the right circumstances.
