Beyond Good & Evil 2

 
Beyond Good & Evil 2 holds the dubious Guinness World Record for the longest development period of any video game, having been first teased in 2008. As of January 2026, it is technically still “active” at Ubisoft Montpellier, but it exists more as a cautionary tale than a tangible product. While recent statements from January 2026 insist the project is “progressing well” under new leadership, no release date exists, and industry insiders suggest it is still years away, if it ever releases at all.
Monkeys, Motherships, and Multiplayer: Core Gameplay

A Prequel Narrative: Despite the “2” in the title, it is a prequel set in “System 3,” a vast solar system where human-animal hybrids are enslaved. You play as a customizable space pirate captain, not Jade (the hero of the first game), though Jade appears as a younger, antagonistic legend.
Seamless Scale: The game’s core technological promise is seamless transition from a coffee shop interior to a spaceship, to atmospheric flight, and finally to deep space, all without loading screens. It aims for a scale even grander than Starfield, with entire procedurally generated planets to explore.
Co-op Focus: Unlike the solitary adventure of the original, this is designed as an “always-online” shared world RPG. You can play solo, but the game encourages teaming up with friends to crew massive capital ships and engage in space piracy together.
Augment Combat: Leaked gameplay describes a combat system where players use jetpacks, swords, and guns simultaneously. Enemies have “augments” that you can scan with a spyglass to uncover weaknesses, adding a tactical layer to the chaotic 3D brawling.
Procedural Generation: To fill its massive planets, the game relies heavily on procedural generation for cities and landscapes, a controversial shift from the handcrafted, intimate design that made the original 2003 game beloved.
Destructible Environments: Tech demos have shown impressive destruction physics, where meteor showers can alter planet surfaces and ship weapons can blast apart structures in real-time.

How It Stacks Up
Beyond Good & Evil 2 chases trends that have already peaked and waned during its 18-year cycle.



Game
Key Difference




Starfield
Starfield relies on loading screens between space and ground. BG&E2 promises true seamlessness. However, Starfield actually exists and is playable, whereas BG&E2 remains a tech demo promise.


No Man’s Sky
Both games promise infinite procedural planets. No Man’s Sky focuses on survival and lonely exploration. BG&E2 focuses on dense, populated cities, narrative RPG elements, and distinct cultural aesthetics (Hindu/Chinese influences).


Skull and Bones
Ubisoft’s other “development hell” title eventually released as a hollow live-service game. Fans fear BG&E2 will suffer the same fate, sacrificing soul for “engagement mechanics” and monetization.



Key Details

Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier.
Publisher: Ubisoft.
Platforms: Unknown (Presumably PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC).
Release Date: TBA (Rumors suggest 2027 or later).
Genre: Open Galaxy Action-RPG.
Vibe: The Fifth Element meets Treasure Planet.

Who It’s For

Must-play for dreamers. If you are fascinated by the idea of a game that simulates an entire living solar system down to the millimeter, watching its development is a hobby in itself.
Skip if you want a sequel to Beyond Good & Evil. This game has almost nothing in common with the 2003 original’s Zelda-like structure, intimate story, or charm. It is a different beast entirely, wearing the skin of a beloved franchise.

Why It Works (Or Why It Doesn’t)
It is “working” only in the sense that it hasn’t been cancelled. The project suffers from massive scope creep. Every few years, it seems to reboot to chase the latest trend, first it was procedural generation, then shared-world multiplayer. The tragedy of Beyond Good & Evil 2 is that the technology it is building is undeniably impressive, but there is seemingly no actual “game” underneath the tech to tie it all together into a fun experience.