Rayman fans are over the moon after the announcement that the limbless hero will be featured in the next Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope DLC. However, there might be more to look forward to. The game's director, Davide Soliani, teased a return to glory for the French platforming mascot Wednesday. He also confirmed there will be a secret message if you finish the DLC with a 100% completion rate. The prospects of the first Rayman game since 2013 might come to fruition.

According to fan community leader ItzalDrake from Rayman Together, Sparks of Hope director Davide Soliani sent a message to the character's fanbase just before the launch of the Phantom Show DLC:

"I hope that all the community and all Rayman players support us as much as possible because I'm on a mission: my mission is to be able to bring Rayman back to the glory he deserves."

https://twitter.com/RaymanTogether/status/1694386555723342118

When was the last Rayman game released?

The limbless hero has been absent for a long time, which is strange as he was an important mascot for Ubisoft during the beginning of the studio's history. The last true game in the series was Rayman Legends, released back in 2013: a decade ago this month. If you want to go all the way back, the last 3D platforming adventure Rayman 3 came out in 2003. A fourth entry or even a follow-up to the 2D platforming subseries would be a dream for many fans of the series.

Soliani did not outright confirm a new game in the series, but as previously mentioned, he has teased a secret hidden message for those who 100% complete the DLC. "I hope for your support and I hope you like it!" he concluded in his message to the fans.

The post Sparks of Hope director teases return to “glory” for Rayman and secret DLC message appeared first on Destructoid.

Microsoft first announced its intentions to acquire Activision Blizzard in 2022. Since then, the road to closing the deal has been a long, sinuous one. The megacorporation has faced pushback from several sources, including Sony. The competitor argues that the acquisition would be anti-competitive, especially if franchises like Call of Duty become Xbox and PC exclusives. Some governing bodies have also stepped in, now prompting Microsoft to revisit its initial agreement.

Previously, Microsoft claimed it was committed to keeping Call of Duty on PlayStation, at least for the next 10 years. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) also voted to block the buyout, driving the companies to push back the merger deadline to October 18. Initially, the CMA made its case against the deal over Microsoft's potential monopolization of cloud game streaming. To appease the CMA, Microsoft has decided to give Ubisoft a piece of the cloud game streaming pie.

Microsoft intends for Ubisoft to compensate it "for the cloud streaming rights to Activision Blizzard’s games through a one-off payment and through a market-based wholesale pricing mechanism." Ubisoft could also offer Activision Blizzard games to cloud services running non-Windows operating systems.

[caption id="attachment_358407" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Ubisoft.[/caption]

Microsoft restructures its agreement to include Ubisoft

The proposed changes would, in theory, limit Microsoft's ability to monopolize cloud game streaming. According to vice chair and president Brad Smith, the company would "not be in a position either to release Activision Blizzard games exclusively on its own cloud streaming service – Xbox Cloud Gaming – or to exclusively control the licensing terms of Activision Blizzard games for rival services."

Navigating cloud streaming rights remains tricky for Microsoft, as it has several preexisting commitments in place. The company currently maintains obligations to "provide cloud streaming rights in the European Economic Area". Currently, Microsoft holds contractual agreements with cloud streaming providers such as Nvidia, Boosteroid, Ubitus, and Nware.

The merger agreement expired in July, though it received that 90-day extension. Nevertheless, Microsoft and Activision Blizzard continue to make headway slowly, and the "transaction is now in a position to move forward in more than 40 countries". If completed, the $68.7 billion acquisition will be the most expensive in gaming history by a significant margin.

The post Microsoft and Activision Blizzard restructure acquisition to address CMA concerns appeared first on Destructoid.

After a long period of rumors followed by an official announcement, Assassin’s Creed Mirage is finally nearing launch. Ubisoft's next installment takes place in 9th-century Baghdad, with Basim Ibn Ishaq taking center stage. Mirage is said to return to the Assassin’s Creed series roots, embracing stealth and parkour.

As the case with past Assassin’s Creed games, Mirage features historical locations and figures that complement more fantastical aspects of its story. In the latest developer behind-the-scenes, the Mirage team discussed the meticulous details and research that went into making Mirage. It's all in an effort to deliver a more authentic recreation of Baghdad—one that doesn’t fall victim to common tropes and cliches.

[caption id="attachment_397660" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot via Ubisoft YouTube.[/caption]

Assassin’s Creed Mirage focuses on the beauty of Baghdad

With its rich history, Baghdad is an easy city to draw inspiration from. It was once the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, and it had the honor of being one of the world’s biggest cities during the Islamic Golden Age. Even so, despite its rich history, Mirage developers were aware modern depictions of Baghdad often neglect this rich cultural heritage.

According to artistic director Jean-Luc Sala, research for Mirage was a little harder than usual because, unlike other settings, “almost nothing from the period has survived to the present day.” Hence, they consulted various experts and relied on descriptions from Medieval travelers, as well as archaeological findings from neighboring cities. Using this information, the team carved out their rendition of Baghdad into four distinct regions:

• Abbasiyah - Baghdad’s cultural hub where scholars and scientists congregate.
• Karkh - A market district where people barter, bargain, and trade.
• Harbiyah -The industrial district,  described as a "dense, grimy part of the city."
• Madinat As-Salam - Baghdad's vibrant center.

https://youtu.be/nruL1RS4gKs

In the video, Sala highlighted how modern depictions of Baghdad in movies and games often portray it as a ruined landscape. While developing Mirage, the team took their approach the opposite direction, attempting to capture the city's beauty and culture instead. As you explore Baghdad, you'll experience the city’s vibrant culture and note some of those small, attention to detail moments. Listen closely and you'll hear the Adhan - the Muslim call to prayer - when approaching the mosque. Through these moments, developers hope to “tackle some of the common cliches about the region and its culture.”

Assassin’s Creed Mirage is slated to release on October 5 on PC, as well as current and last-gen PlayStation and Xbox consoles.

The post Assassin’s Creed Mirage developers worked with experts to ‘tackle some common cliches’ about Baghdad appeared first on Destructoid.

Ubisoft has announced that the upcoming Assassin's Creed Mirage has gone gold. Even more surprisingly, the game's release date has shifted up a week, from October 12 to October 5. No explanation was given for the changed release date, though it's unlikely fans are complaining.

https://twitter.com/assassinscreed/status/1691117533846482944

Assassin's Creed Mirage is supposed to be a smaller, more streamlined Assassin's Creed. Promotional material for the upcoming game, which is centred on Valhalla's Basim, reveals that it returns to the franchise's roots by placing greater focus on parkour and stealth gameplay.

[caption id="attachment_396580" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Ubisoft.[/caption]

Assassin's Creed Mirage coming sooner than expected

The "gone gold" announcement simply means that a release version of the game is complete and ready for duplication and shipping. Rather than sit on the game, Ubisoft has decided to release the game earlier. While this does suggest some confidence in the game, it doesn't necessarily mean it won't be getting any post-launch patches.

One of the benefits of the new release date is that Mirage gets to launch relatively early in a month which is absolutely stacked with headlining releases. Ubisoft has avoided releasing Mirage on the same week as Forza Motorsport and Lords of the Fallen, though it now shares a release week with Detective Pikachu Returns. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Alan Wake 2 are both highly anticipated sequels also scheduled to release in October.

In many ways, it feels like Assassin's Creed Mirage is a response to some of the complaints lodged against Valhalla. If it can avoid the open-world bloat that plagued Valhalla while providing a compelling narrative for Basim, Mirage could be the breath of fresh air the franchise needs.

The post Assassin’s Creed Mirage is launching a week earlier appeared first on Destructoid.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla's Basim is the star of Assassin's Creed Mirage, the upcoming game that will serve as the latest entry in the franchise. In many ways, Mirage represents a return to an older for the series, as it will borrow many elements from older entries. It will also have a length and scope similar to the classic titles, which may be a relief for players who were overwhelmed by Valhalla's epic size.

[caption id="attachment_394615" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Ubisoft.[/caption]

Assassin’s Creed Mirage is much shorter than Valhalla

In 2022, there were rumors and reports that Ubisoft was planning a shorter Assassin’s Creed title centered on Basim. As the release date for the since-revealed game draws nearer, we are discovering just how short it will be. Ubisoft lead producer Fabian Salomon recently sat down for an interview with YouTuber Julien Chièze and discussed a bit about what players can expect from the upcoming game. The conversation is in French, though the important parts have been translated by PCGamesN.

According to Salomon, Assassin's Creed Mirage can be completed in around 20-23 hours, and completionists can expect to spend 25-30 hours. Basim’s adventure will be a lot closer to the classic Assassin’s Creed titles which also had much more manageable lengths. The first two entries and Brotherhood all have playtimes of under 20 hours according to HowLongToBeat. That's far shorter than 2020's Valhalla, which has a playtime of around 60 hours, or over 100 if you're trying to see everything.

This isn’t the only way the upcoming game will resemble classic titles. As vice president and executive producer of Assassin's Creed Marc-Alexis Côté explained to IGN, developers looked to the first game in the franchise for inspiration, and Mirage is very much a love letter to the game that started it all. Hence, like the first game, Mirage will have a greater focus on “stealth, on close-quarter combat, on parkour, and a denser city”. For players who really want to crank up the nostalgia, an optional visual filter featuring the desaturated blue-grey color palette that characterizes the first Assassin's Creed game will also be available.

It appears that you can expect a far more streamlined experience with Mirage. As developers have previously revealed, the upcoming game will have less of a focus on RPG elements, and it will have a story-focus linear structure. A short and sweet playtime may be welcomed by some, as a recurring criticism of Valhalla is that it is bloated with busywork to pad the playtime. Many wallets may also be grateful, as the standard edition will launch with a price tag of $50 to reflect the game's smaller scope.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage is scheduled to release on October 12 on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Players who pre-order will receive an exclusive mission titled "The Forty Thieves."

The post Assassin’s Creed Mirage’s play time will be shorter than Valhalla’s appeared first on Destructoid.

Ubisoft has reportedly cancelled its plans for an Immortals Fenyx Rising sequel. Multiple sources anonymously told VGC that a follow-up was in early development at Ubisoft Quebec, but leadership ultimately decided to cancel it.

Kotaku has also corroborated the report. Ubisoft has commented on VGC's original reporting, saying it's "reallocating some creative teams and resources within the Quebec studio."

“As part of our global strategy, we are redirecting and reallocating some creative teams and resources within the Quebec studio to other unannounced projects," the company told VGC. "The expertise and technologies these teams developed will serve as an accelerator for the development of these key projects focused on our biggest brands. We have nothing further to share at this time."

Fading into myth

Ubisoft's Breath Of The Wild-inspired title from 2020 was good, and found moderate success among players. Still, VGC's sources claim that Ubisoft canceled the Immortals sequel over perceived challenges around establishing the IP.

Ubisoft's original plan revolved around turning Immortals into a franchise that would explore various mythologies. The original game and its DLC explored the Greek and Chinese mythologies, respectively. Journalist Jeff Grubb reported last year that Ubisoft intended to explore things such as Hawaiian Polynesian myths in the future, but that won't be happening anymore.

Immortals is Ubisoft's fourth known cancellation this year. It follows the axing of three unannounced games as the company shifts focus to its best-selling IPs. To give you an idea of how closely Ubisoft is sticking to their bigger properties, this year's Assassin's Creed Mirage is but one of at least six games in the series currently in development.

This casts yet another large shadow over the fates of upcoming titles such as Skull & Bones and the poster child of development hell itself, Beyond Good & Evil 2.

The post Ubisoft reportedly cancels an Immortals Fenyx Rising sequel appeared first on Destructoid.

The next chapter of Assassin's Creed could come sooner than later

Ubisoft has been enduring turbulent times during the last few years. Underperforming titles have caused the company to take more cautious steps, leading to previously announced titles, such as Ghost Recon Frontline, getting canceled.

The Assassin's Creed franchise has been spared the brutal culling, and fans can expect several more future entries, including a new entry for mobile phones. It is codenamed Assassin's Creed Jade, and though many details are still under wraps, players have been invited to sign up for closed beta testing.

[caption id="attachment_392183" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

Assassin's Creed Jade begins closed beta testing

In 2022, Ubisoft announced that there are a few Assassin's Creed games in the works, including Assassin's Creed Mirage which focuses on Valhalla's Basim, and a title codenamed Assassin's Creed Red which is set in Japan. Assassin's Creed Jade was one of the titles announced in 2022. Assassin's Creed Infinity, which will serve as a hub for the franchise, is also in development.

https://youtu.be/pfJw0zBEyjE

The mobile game is being developed by Tencent's Level Infinite, and there are currently no plans to release it on other platforms. This isn't the first time the franchise has dared to experiment on the mobile platform. Ubisoft previously released several spin-offs of the series on iOS and Android, including Assassin's Creed Identity, Assassin's Creed: Memories, and Assassin's Creed Rebellion.

Despite being a mobile game, the trailer reveals that it will still be a visually stunning title. The announced closed beta will run from August 3 to 11, and it will be available on both iOS and Android. If you're interested, you'll need to visit Assassin's Creed Jade's official site and create an account.

[caption id="attachment_392184" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

Assassin's Creed Jade is coming

As Ubisoft has revealed, the game is set in ancient China, during the reign of the 3rd century Qin Dynasty. Although it is being developed for mobile devices, the game will feature gameplay that will be familiar to long-time fans. You'll also be able to create your own playable character.

According to the franchise's executive producer Marc-Alexis Côté, Assassin's Creed Jade will let players "do things like parkour atop the Great Wall of China, sneak through bustling cities, engage in intense combat, and discover the secrets, the vastness, of ancient China." It's not all blood and guts, as players also be able to admire Xianyang's stunning scenery and mingle with merchants.

While this isn't the first time Assassin's Creed has made an appearance on mobile devices, Jade may be the franchise's most ambitious attempt on the platform thus far. Like Infinity, Assassin's Creed Jade hasn't been given a release date, but the announcement of a closed beta suggests that the game's release can't be too far away.

The post Assassin’s Creed Codename Jade gets a closed beta test in August appeared first on Destructoid.

The longtime Ubisoft developer has passed away

Emile Morel, a developer with a long legacy including many years at Ubisoft, has died at age 40.

News first began to spread around on LinkedIn, with colleagues posting tributes to Morel on the site (via IGN). Ubisoft Montpelier, his studio, has posted an official confirmation and statement:

It is with a heavy heart that we share the sudden passing of our friend and colleague Emile Morel. We send our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and teammates all over the world.

We would like to take a moment to acknowledge the significant impact he made over the years on different games that make up the rich history of our studio.

For us, Emile was a close friend and a boundless source of positive energy. We all valued his passion and the way he told stories.

We will never forget Emile and his immense contribution to the BGE2 universe will forever endure.

True Freedom Lies Beyond.

Beyond good and evil

Morel had worked at Ubisoft for some time, with 14 years of experience at the company working on several notable titles. Morel served as a senior designer on Rayman Legends, as well as working on Test Drive Unlimited 2, 2008's Alone in the Dark, and Rayman Fiesta Run.

After the departure of several leads from Beyond Good & Evil 2, Morel took over as creative director on the project. The sequel was revealed at E3 2017 and has been in development for some time since.

We extend our thoughts and condolences to Morel's loved ones and colleagues.

The post Beyond Good & Evil 2 creative director Emile Morel dies at 40 appeared first on Destructoid.

Modders: do your thing

Studios and publishers would generally agree that video games having their source code leaked is a pretty bad thing. But what if it's an old game that people probably aren't buying these days anyway? That's the case for the original Far Cry from 2004, whose source code cropped up online recently.

The story emerged after Twitter user and Duke Nukem modder Vinícius Medeiros posted a bunch of screenshots showing the complete code for the first Far Cry game. When asked by another user, a link to archive.org was then posted, leading to a download page for anyone interested in checking it out. The files were uploaded by user Llaetha.ro in June and are said to be 1.34 version of the game.

https://twitter.com/VinciusMedeiro6/status/1674890139879845888

Many will assume that this will lead to a lot of fan-made Far Cry mods. However, according to Vinícius Medeiros, the original game itself was already moddable thanks to an official level editor. The release of the full source code could, instead, lead to modifications and/or fixes to the game engine itself. But we'll have to wait and see what people can come up with.

https://twitter.com/OwOskan/status/1675106453646897152

Don't Cry over spilled Fars

Approaching its 20th year, Far Cry was built on the original version of the CryEngine by CryTek. The engine itself was a marvel of video game technology at the time, particularly when the second iteration was released, which was used in the development of 2007's Crysis. The game was a visual feast, showing not only the power of the CryEngine, but also giving PC players a benchmark to test their new hardware on.

As for the Far Cry series itself, there were whispers earlier this year that Ubisoft may be working on a seventh installment. We can't say for certain yet, but given how lucrative the franchise is for the studio, a new entry is probably on the cards.

At the time of writing, there's been no word from Ubisoft on Far Cry 1's source code being leaked. We know how militant these companies can be when it comes to protecting their IPs. For now, it's likely that some interesting modifications to the game's very core could be inbound.

The post The OG Far Cry source code has leaked appeared first on Destructoid.

Time bends to your will

It's nice to see the Prince of Persia series back in action. While the Sands of Time remake is still cooking, the series is going back to its 2D roots with The Lost Crown, an Ubisoft Montpellier project. And after playing a small slice of it, I'm pretty excited about the full game.

The Lost Crown feels like it pays homage to the foundation of Prince of Persia. The player takes up the role of Sargon, a new character who's part of an elite band of warriors looking for the kidnapped Prince Ghassan. In the demo I played as part of Ubisoft's presence in Los Angeles during Summer Game Fest 2023, I got a fairly good look at how Sargon's journey plays out. There's a whole lot of running, jumping, parrying, and plenty of spikes to dodge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3qsC8T42Ag

The seeker

While some fans are more familiar with the 3D era of Prince of Persia, this iteration looks back towards the 2D. It is a search-action, Metroidvania-style game. Sargon can walljump, slide around, dash, and move at a decent clip. It's not terribly surprising to see, as Ubisoft Montpellier has quite a legacy in 2D action with Rayman Origins and Legends.

The studio feels like it's in full form here with The Lost Crown, as navigating is a joy. Within minutes, I was already experimenting with ways of combining my movement abilities to smoothly fly through the level. I played it twice, once on a hefty PC set-up and again on Nintendo Switch (which Ubisoft says is running at 60 FPS, and was very solid in my experience). It felt great to explore a level with all I'd learned, effortlessly flipping and sliding past spikes and enemies.

[caption id="attachment_386734" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Ubisoft[/caption]

Of course, it's not just platforming, but those aforementioned enemies too. Some kind of undead plague has struck the temple Sargon and crew are exploring, and zombie soldiers are milling about. There's a basic attack, that you can chain together into a combo or hold to charge up for a knockback. Sargon also has a limited pool of arrows and a chakram he can throw, and he can expend levels of a fighting game-like meter to execute special attacks, like a wave of damage or a healing circle.

On top of all that, there is a parry mechanic. Normal enemy attacks can be parried, which builds meter and opens up combo opportunities, while red attacks cannot be parried. Those with a yellow flash open up a special parry, which lets Sargon do a special execution with a cut-in and animation.

There are even deeper systems, too. I found out I could wall-bounce enemies for combos, and perform a launcher attack before pelting them with arrows while they hung in the air. Animation cancelling and little optimizations are all here, too. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has both platforming and action locked down already.

[caption id="attachment_386735" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Ubisoft[/caption]

A wrinkle in time

Add on the extra mechanic of time-warping, and The Lost Crown gets even more interesting. Sargon can leave a static image that he may warp back to, a bit like a rewind mechanic. Theoretically, this could be used before a big platforming section, as a "save my skin" safety.

But it can just as easily be used to get around enemy defenses, set up interesting combos, and dodge attacks. The use cases felt limitless.

The impressive set of tools gets further enhanced as you explore and collect gems, which you can trade to a merchant for amulet charms. Different ones enhance Sargon's abilities in different ways, allowing him to fire three arrows instead of one, or adding extra attacks to his basic combo string. A favorite of mine was an amulet you could purchase that boosted Sargon's damage while poisoned. And that's a very interesting mechanic thanks to the boss fight that sat at the end of the demo.

[caption id="attachment_386732" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Ubisoft[/caption]

Of gods and monsters

Closing out the demo is a boss battle with a massive chimaera, who has a pretty hefty arsenal of attacks. It can strike the ground with its tail, creating pools of poison. The beast flies up and down, slamming the earth when it lands, and also unleashes claw attacks, a floating magical cloud of death, and more.

This battle was a great challenge to end on, as it pushed me to make use of all my tools. In a single fight, I felt like I was carefully managing my meter, dodging attacks and timing my strikes. It was rewarding when I landed a good parry and got a solid combo in. And eventually, after a few tries, I brought the boss down. It felt even better to pick up the Switch version, speedrun to his arena, and fell him in one go.

[caption id="attachment_386731" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Ubisoft[/caption]

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is sincerely one of my favorite games from the last week or so I spent in LA, and that's a welcome surprise. It's a winning combination of a solid franchise and talented studio, and really feels like it could be a home run if the whole game pans out like this. It's still a ways off, with a planned launch date set for January 18, 2024. But it seems like The Lost Crown might be worth the wait.

The post Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a stellar side-scrolling surprise appeared first on Destructoid.

The Outlook is strong

It is a time of unrest. In the Star Wars universe, that’s all the time. But apparently, that’s important in Star Wars: Outlook – I mean Star Wars: Outlaws – which was shown off by Massive Entertainment as part of Ubisoft Forward 2023.

You play as Kay Vess, a thief who has a bounty on their head. She sneaks around and sucker-punches some dudes who don’t look like her. Her furry axolotl can be commanded by her to fetch weapons in the midst of combat. It’s actually pretty cute. Very merchandize-able.

https://youtu.be/c7K2TA0bBpY

She then takes off into the open world. Yeah, it’s open world. Normally, this isn’t much of a bulletpoint, but for Ubisoft, it’s a warning. So, this whole thing is just accomplishing a side-quest delivery, and then returning to the quest giver. She then takes off in her ship, which, again, is the most unimaginative-looking ship I’ve seen in a while. There’s some space combat. Quest complete.

I mean, it looks nice. It sounds nice. It’s very Star Wars-y, which I mean as a compliment. Still, though, the whole vertical slice of gameplay is so Ubisoft that it gives me pause. A lot of the features of Star Wars: Outlook, uh, Outlaws look pretty cool. I just don’t want to be using them to accomplish a bunch of shallow, repetitive nothing missions.

We’ll see for sure just how it turns out when Star Wars: Outlaws release sometime in 2024.

The post Star Wars: Outlaws gameplay trailer demonstrates its merchandisablity appeared first on Destructoid.

Like half a sitcom of Assassin's Creed Mirage

As the penultimate act of the Ubisoft Forward stream, we saw a lot of footage of Assassin's Creed Mirage. The first revealed trailer, as has been the rhythm of this show, focuses on the story. Unsurprisingly, this splices together some cinematic scenes to give us an overview of the characters and show off some environments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hjico7nYvo

Of course, the real meat and potatoes lies in the subsequent gameplay trailer. This provides us almost eight minutes of footage showing what Assassin's Creed Mirage will bring to the table.

That said, we didn't receive any confirmation over whether this was an an open world or a semi-open world. I think they should have included that vital detail.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxpYHW-M_Ac

As we reported previously, Assassin's Creed Mirage will launch on October 12 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC. Pre-orders are available now.

The post New Assassin’s Creed Mirage trailers confirms it is Assassin’s Creed appeared first on Destructoid.

Brum.

During Ubisoft Forward, the publisher offered an update on its dazzling-looking racing title The Crew Motorfest, which launches on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms September 14.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGAukGxUDI8

Following a bass-heavy, rubber-burnin' new trailer, we were treated to a sizzle reel spotlighting the title's high-velocity visual effects and globe-trotting environments. We got to see various high-performance vehicles tearing through the main streets of USA, under the neon glow of Japan, and, for the very first time, the tropical paradise of Oahu.

We then saw a snazzy orange Lambo which, apparently, "You are excited about as I am".

You're not the Ubiboss of me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuvaE7VhhjY

More importantly, it was announced that Motorfest players can import their current garages of prized vehicles into the new game absolutely free of charge. So you don't have to leave that beloved jalopy behind. The Crew Motorfest launches on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms September 14. An open beta will take place between July 21-23.

The post The Crew Motorfest comes ripping off the starting grid September 14 appeared first on Destructoid.

It's colorful, at least

Ubisoft has shown off a trailer for their upcoming animated show, Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix. I would have been more excited for a game, but that’s just me. This is not that. It is not a sequel to Blood Dragon. It's a show that is coming to Netflix this Fall.

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon was a standalone expansion to Far Cry 3 that, in a rare move for Ubisoft, looked like it was made by people having fun with their work. Unfortunately, it looks like Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix isn’t really… that. It’s not looking very parody ‘80s cyberpunk.

https://youtu.be/LgAUYJ_gglg

But! Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix does look kind of fun. There are Easter eggs, butts, and speed lines. There are some rainbows. It also looks like there’s going to be some Assassin’s Creed wrapped in there. Could be good. I’ve got no reason to believe otherwise.

I mean, I would still prefer that Ubisoft just makes another dumb-fun game, but I suppose that might be asking too much. At least they didn’t describe the show as being “semi-open world.”

Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix is coming to Netflix this Fall.

The post Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix is a show coming to Netflix this Fall appeared first on Destructoid.

Also starring a "semi-open world"

During the Ubisoft Forward event, we got to see a pair of new trailers for the upcoming Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. The first of these was an animated trailer, which offers a pretty good time if you're a fan of the new design for the titular prince.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxP9Mx3AdEk

Of course, cinematic and animated trailers in the video game world are a dime a dozen. Fortunately, the second trailer demonstrates the proper gameplay of this title, which gives us a bit more to chew on. Director Mournir Radi said The Lost Crown has a "semi-open world," which I still can't get over.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3qsC8T42Ag

The most intriguing part of this trailer is the showcase of time-based powers reminiscent of the original Sands of Time. While this gimmick might be in vogue at the moment, Prince of Persia at least has precedent for it. So far, it looks like time-based mechanics will factor heavily into both the combat of The Lost Crown and exploration of its not quite linear world. It's not a full open world, that I can assure you.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and its semi-open, definitely not closed world will launch on January 17, 2024. You can grab it on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

The post Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown shows off time powers in new trailers appeared first on Destructoid.

I'm Blue

Ubisoft Forward 2023 is underway, and the show kicked off with a new cinematic trailer for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, which sees the Na'vi once again under threat from the machinations of capitalism and man. Pre-orders are now live on PC and console, ahead of a December 7 release date.

https://youtu.be/RDzw1EKnaIA

No less than director James Cameron himself popped his head through the door to explain the process behind transferring his cinematic universe to the gaming realm. Cameron spoke of the team's aims to "Push boundaries" of creating living open worlds, powered by an original story that will take place alongside that of the two blockbuster movies. This message was then followed by a gameplay video, spotlighting the activities of the Pandora universe and the Na'vi civilization.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=difL_diHo2o&ab_channel=Ubisoft

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora launches December 7 on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X.

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"A modern take on the legendary franchise"

Today at the Summer Game Fest kickoff, Geoff Keighley and company revealed Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, a new platformer with a 2d-sidescrolling vibe. It's due out on January 18, 2024, and the listed platforms include Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and Amazon Luna.

Based on the footage, locomotion is an important part of the game's flow, with airdashing in clear focus. Combos are also seemingly possible, as the nimble hero Sargon is able to juggle and grappling hook enemies in, "get over here" style. Ubisoft Forward will have more info on this new entry in the Prince of Persia franchise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmX7a_e65uU

Welp! It's something to do before the Prince of Persia remake possibly never comes out!

Here's the full breakdown from Ubisoft:

"In this brand-new adventure, players will embody Sargon, a young, gifted warrior, member of an elite group called The Immortals. As they are sent to rescue Prince Ghassan, they will explore Mount Qaf, a once wondrous place, now cursed and hostile. Sargon and his brothers-in-arms will soon discover that time itself will be a treacherous foe and that the world balance must be restored.

Inspired by the Metroidvania structure, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown lets players explore a handcrafted world at their own pace. From the majestic Citadel of Knowledge to the colorful landscapes of the Hyrcanian Forest, players will discover a variety of environments inspired by Persian mythology. By acquiring new time powers, unlocking unique abilities and combining them in combat, Sargon will progressively delve deeper into Mount Qaf, solving puzzles, finding secrets, and completing exciting side quests.

In this epic journey, Sargon will fight his way through mythical enemies, larger-than-life bosses, and vicious traps. By combining combat and platforming skills, players will defeat time-corrupted creatures such as Jahandar, the dreadful Manticore, guardian of the Citadel.  Players will be able to express their creativity in a deep and engaging combat system to trigger devastating combos."

[caption id="attachment_385184" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Ubisoft[/caption]

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Sequel? Online Shooter? Probably one or both

Ubisoft has released a new trailer teasing its upcoming summer presentation, Ubisoft Forward — The live stream event, which will take place on June 12, will feature updates on an array of the publisher's titles, as well as the reveal of an all-new mystery game.

The trailer, which you can check out below, features clips from some of the studio's incoming wares, including Assassin's Creed Mirage, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and The Crew: Motorfest. A group of models, impossibly too trendy to be watching a publisher live stream then enquire as to a mystery image, delivering a delightfully wooden "Wait. What's that Game?" I dunno, probably another crossover shooter for mobile platforms. Why not? Also, it helps if your TV is actually turned on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAsWtB4f5Ls&t

If you want to check out the action for yourself, then Ubisoft Forward kicks off June 12 at 10:00 PT / 13:00 ET / 18:00 BST and can be watched live on Ubisoft's YouTube, Twitch, and social media channels. Of course, Team Destructoid will be sat around for the affair, likely in an apartment far less perfect than the one featured in this video), and will bring you all of the headlines as they occur.

Assassin's Creed Mirage launches on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox October 12. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora launches later this year on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X. Finally, The Crew: Motorfest also launches later this year on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms.

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The remake is alive but skipping Ubisoft Forward

Ubisoft is surfacing with an update on the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake. The project is still ongoing, but sounds like it has been effectively taken back to the drawing board at Ubisoft Montreal.

In a new update, Ubisoft says the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake is "very much alive" and in the "conception" phase of development. Ubisoft Montreal took over development on the project from Ubisoft Pune and Ubisoft Mumbai last year.

Here's producer Jean-Francois Naud on the current status of the remake:

"In terms of the development stage, we're in conception right now. Since we took over the project, we've been looking at feedback from the community and finding our own way of delivering the game. Now, we're building up the team, defining the priorities, putting prototypes together, testing elements, and looking at how we can include community feedback in the development as well. It’s still in an early stage, and players should not expect to hear more about the game this year, but rest assured that we’re all putting our strengths and heart into this project."

Alongside that, in an FAQ on the remake's status, Ubisoft confirms there's no plans to remake any other Prince of Persia games. It also confirms there's no release date set and, as said last year, existing pre-orders have been canceled and refunded where applicable. Basically, it seems like it's still in very early stages.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htzq7EEXQs8

If I could turn back time

Since it was first announced in 2020, the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake has been a bit rocky. It's had several delays, alongside the shift from its previous studios to Ubisoft Montreal.

Some of the anxiety around Prince of Persia also feels like it's stemming from Ubisoft's current state. The publisher has canceled several projects, and seen games like Skull & Bones and Beyond Good & Evil 2 sit on the backburner for quite some time.

There's also been some unrest at the publisher, and recent layoffs too. All this is to say, the upcoming Ubisoft Forward—which Prince of Persia will be skipping—seems like it's time for the publisher to try and chart its new course.

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That's not how The Force works

According to new rumors published online, a release date is still up in the air for Ubisoft's as-yet-untitled Star Wars release, which has been in development at Ubisoft Massive for several years now. According to Kotaku sources, an initial plan to launch the title by spring 2024 is on the rocks, with the open-world adventure possibly being pushed to spring 2025 instead.

First announced in January 2021, Ubisoft's Star Wars release is being touted as a truly epic open-world experience, that will capture the scale and grandeur of the blockbuster movie series, along with its worlds and characters. The game is expected to follow a wholly original storyline featuring brand-new heroes and villains, but will feature themes, elements, and an aesthetic familiar to all fans of a galaxy far, far away. Another tale told in the expansive pantheon of adventures inspired by the Lucasfilm series.

However, it seems that the ambition of the title will see it pushed backward from its supposed launch date and — according to Kotaku's sources, a delay is all-but-inevitable. In its most recent financial report, Ubisoft listed some of its upcoming releases, which included the stealth sequel Assassin's Creed Mirage, online shooter XDefiant, and racer The Crew Motorfest. Given its crowded schedule and the size of the project, it's a fair bet to suggest that Star Wars is at least a full year away at the very least.

Ubisoft's Star Wars project is currently in development at Ubisoft Massive.

Ubisoft Open-World Star Wars Game May Be Sooner Than You Think [Kotaku]

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Ezio didn't dive into hay bales for this

Ubisoft, undaunted, is continuing to mine its catalog of IPs for new NFT/blockchain ventures, announcing this morning that it intends to release a new line of pretendo pictures based upon its hugely successful time-hopping series Assassin's Creed. This new venture, at the very least, has something of a physical form.

The Assassin's Creed Smart Collectibles line consists of images of characters from the long-running stealth series, replicated as "Digital Souls". The variance in these images will be implemented via the costumes and equipment each Soul will be wearing and carrying. Once purchased, the NFT "owner" will then be able to request a 3D-printed cube of their Soul, featuring a replica of their character. These cubes can then be registered via a special companion app.

https://twitter.com/ACSmartCollect/status/1656636997069336578?s=20

There is also a form of "Pass" available for the new line. 1500 "Eden Passes" will be made available, which offer the owner the opportunity to buy exclusive drops, an exclusive Digital Soul, as well as a way to queue-jump the 3D printing queue. Yes, it's essentially DLC for your NFT. The weirdest part is, some responses to actual cubes themselves have been positive, with some fans asking why they can't just start a range of character cubes, without the blockchain buffoonery.

Prices for the NFTs or the Eden Pass were not revealed.

If you detect more than a hint of exhaustion in my reporting, then I'm only trending off the continued downward spiral that has hit the NFT/Blockchain market since that weird window where we were being told, endlessly, that NFTs were not only THE currency of the future, but also that people against the idea just "didn't get how much it benefitted them". This period was, of course, followed by a string of situations where publishers were ragged on for embracing the controversial technology, no less Ubisoft themselves — who remain steadfastly drawn to the dopey idea.

Despite the complete collapse of cryptocurrency company FTX, the embarrassment of Meta, or the contempt displayed towards studios such as Square Enix, and Sega for promoting these schemes, new NFT projects still pop up from time to time. The Pokemon Company recently advertised for an NFT/Metaverse expert, Yu Suzuki announced a line of Virtua Fighter collectibles, and, just last week, pro-wrestling promotion Impact announced its own line, to the immediate derision of its fanbase and a whopping 278 Likes.

Welcome to the World of Tomorrow.

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Some employees say they weren't given notice

Ubisoft could see layoffs of up to 60 employees at two different offices, as part of an organizational shift. Both the North Carolina and Newcastle locations are impacted.

These cuts look to be happening in the Customer Relations side of Ubisoft. The publisher confirmed the job cuts in a statement to Eurogamer:

"Ubisoft's Customer Relation Center team is evolving its organisation to focus on where we can have a significant impact while remaining steadfast in our commitment to consistently support our players anywhere in the world. We estimate that, due to organisational changes, 60 team members from our offices in Cary, North Carolina in the US and Newcastle in the UK could be impacted."

Now-former employees on social media have said there was no notice given for these layoffs.

The future for Ubisoft

Earlie this year, reports indicated issues within Ubisoft, as the publisher was coming off a rough 2022. Ubisoft has had some struggles with free-to-play launches like Hyper Scape, and has cancelled a number of unannounced projects alongside delays for current projects. Additionally, games like Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope and Just Dance 2023 underperformed for the company.

In March, Ubisoft said it was working on a "strategic reorganization" of its European business subsidiaries.

Ubisoft isn't the only games company that's seen layoffs this year, as others like Riot Games and Microsoft have also cut jobs. The publisher is still planning to host its Ubisoft Forward in June, where it will show a little of what's in store for the future of Ubisoft.

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"Dotemu brings a classic to new consoles

Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes is getting a second wind with a Definitive Edition. The  well-remembered puzzle-battle game is getting a new version produced by Dotemu.

The Might & Magic series itself is an old one in games, and Clash of Heroes is a unique, superb take on it. It's a blend of tactics and puzzle gameplay, where you match units on a board to send them after the opponent, going back and forth in turn-based, line-driven puzzle battles.

Originally developed by Capybara Games, published by Ubisoft, and released in 2009, the Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes Definitive Edition is getting a refresh from Dotemu. Via a press release, Dotemu says it has not altered the "established scope and vision" of the game.

The portraits and art have been given a refresh, and quality-of-life improvements have been added, including a multiplayer rebalance. This definitive Clash of Heroes will also include the I Am the Boss DLC, with four playable bosses and a newly created, multiplayer-exclusive boss Euny the Archdruid. You can see how it all looks in the trailer below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98cOgxfUa4Q

"Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes was one of my favorite games from the era it was originally released in," said Dotemu CEO Cyrille Imbert in a press release. "It’s a game design gem. I spent so many nights on my Xbox 360 with my friends trying to set up the best, undefeatable strategy, playing for just 'one more duel' until the sun rose. So to be able to work on an updated version of this modern classic and bring it to entirely new audiences is amazing; we can’t wait to introduce this game to a new generation of fans."

The clash is back

The original Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes was available on Steam, though that version appears to delisted at the moment. But putting this strategy gem on modern consoles, especially the Switch, seems like a no-brainer.

It's an inventive title that reminds me of the heyday of the Nintendo DS and XBLA. It's exciting to see a game that felt like a cult classic get revitalized for new platforms. Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes Definitive Edition heads to PC, PS4, and Switch this summer.

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Server and progression issues are to blame

[Update: A new tweet from the official XDefiant Twitter account suggests that the beta will be closing as planned on April 23 at 23:00 PT and April 24 at 02:00 ET.]

XDefiant is in the middle of its first closed beta test, but there's trouble in paradise for the potential Call of Duty competitor. Ubisoft San Francisco developers recently hinted at a possible extension for the closed beta due to many ongoing problems.

[caption id="attachment_373891" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Ubisoft[/caption]

XDefiant closed beta extension, teased

Problems during the XDefiant closed beta test first popped up a few days after it went live on April 13. Notably, players weren’t able to advance past a certain point in the progression system and unlock any items. Additionally, loadouts that should allow players to save their favorite equipment didn't function properly. Ubisoft San Francisco has since pushed updates to address the problems, but patches took days to hit all platforms.

These issues are on top of unsteady servers that continue to hinder players' enjoyment of the game. These range from difficulty finding games online to even connecting to the servers in the first place. Even after a full server configuration replacement, players still struggle to play matches in this online-only game.

Thankfully, it didn’t take long for the game’s executive producer, Mark Rubin, to address the situation on Twitter. Rubin not only noted when the issues would hopefully be fixed, but also teased the possibility of a closed beta extension.

https://twitter.com/PixelsofMark/status/1647380740429205505

Fortunately for Rubin's Team, players have still praised the game despite the problems stemming from the beta.

"I've been absolutely floored by the reception so far even with all of the issues that we've had," Rubin said in a twitter thread on April 17. "We wanted to make this game out of our love for gaming and we can't be successful without you, the players."

[caption id="attachment_363483" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Ubisoft[/caption]

The closed beta is full of technical problems

If these issues continue for the remaining days of the closed beta, an extension could be in the cards. Hopefully, fixes arrive soon so all beta testers can get a feel for how this Call of Duty alternative plays.

The XDefiant closed beta will run until April 23. It is playable on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

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Long division

Ubisoft has announced that it will host a stream to cover what’s upcoming for The Division franchise on April 20. This is apparently “Division Day,” but I feel like most of their target audience knows that day as something else.

https://twitter.com/TheDivisionGame/status/1648370815459643392?s=20

The festivities will kick off with a look at the year 5 roadmap for The Division 2, which includes some insight into its “Descent game mode.” I can’t believe The Division 2 has been out for five years. It paradoxically feels like a lot longer and far shorter. I mean, it feels like yesterday that people were complaining that they had to literally queue up to interact with NPCs, because the weird design choice was made to only allow one player to talk to them at a time. In an online game.

Next is a gameplay preview of the upcoming The Division Heartland, which is a free-to-play game in the series’ universe. There’s supposedly going to be an open beta ahead of launch, so maybe we’ll hear a little about that.

Finally, there will be a “project update” for The Division Resurgence, which is an upcoming free-to-play mobile entry in the series. Wait. Where are you going? Come back!

I haven’t really touched anything with Tom Clancy’s name on it since Ubisoft started using it to brand a bunch of multi-player stuff. The Division, in particular, sounds like the oil to my water, which is to say, I don’t think I could get into it. Maybe in my younger days.

The Division stream is set to kick off on April 20, 2023, at 11AM PDT/ 8PM CEST/ 2PM EDT. You’ll be able to view it on Ubisoft’s Twitch and Youtube channels.

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Moving Forward

Ubisoft has locked in its plans for a summer Ubisoft Forward stream, happening around the same time as E3. But as the company confirmed yesterday, that won't be a part of E3 2023.

Posted in a new blog update today, Ubisoft will air its new Forward on June 12 at 10 a.m. PT. The show is set to host the "latest game updates, news, and reveals" both live and in-person from Los Angeles. More details, like the line-up and where to watch, will be on the way. This date puts it directly adjacent to E3 2023, which runs from June 13 through 16.

https://twitter.com/Ubisoft/status/1640747302166884352

These details reaffirm what was already reported yesterday, as Ubisoft looks to be skipping E3 2023. Though it had affirmed its commitment to the show in February, a spokesperson gave VGC the following statement yesterday:

"E3 has fostered unforgettable moments across the industry throughout the years. While we initially intended to have an official E3 presence, we’ve made the subsequent decision to move in a different direction, and will be holding a Ubisoft Forward Live event on 12th June in Los Angeles. We look forward to sharing more details with our players very soon."

Streaming in the vicinity

Ubisoft now joins the likes of Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo in not committing to an official E3 presence. In fact, Ubisoft's approach is quite similar to Microsoft's: just host a show in town, at your own venue, instead.

This also begs the question of who is committed to E3 2023. While the show, hosted by the ESA and PAX showrunner ReedPop, has locked in its plans for industry/consumer days and other logistic details, it feels like no big name has checked the "yes" box on this particular note. All the while, publisher-hosted shows and alternative options like Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest are still going on.

The summer, it seems, is going to look a little strange. At the very least, Ubisoft will still have something to show in June; it just won't be under the official banner of E3.

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You be changing your mind

VGC is reporting that Ubisoft has decided to back out of E3's attempted return in 2023. This comes a month after they claimed they were finalizing their plans to attend the expo. I suppose those plans are now finalized as being "nope."

Speaking to VGC, a spokesperson reportedly said, "While we initially intended to have an official E3 presence, we’ve made the subsequent decision to move in a different direction, and will be holding a Ubisoft Forward Live event on 12th June in Los Angeles. We look forward to sharing more details with our players very soon."

This is disappointing news for anyone who was hoping E3 would return in full form this year after a three-year physical hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sony and Nintendo have both stated they'll be passing on the expo, with Microsoft holding a separate event elsewhere in LA.

While those are hardly the only big companies in the industry today, E3 was once an event that publishers would be crazy to miss. It was the biggest event of the year, and while it's still an important time for announcements, the biggest companies in the business are progressively moving further and further away from it. It seems like the only way it would ever return to form would be if these publishers were lured into the convention center with the promise of cake and locked the doors behind them.

There's still something of a question mark above who's still going to be attending the Electronic Entertainment Expo, with show organizer Reedpop simply saying that "AAA companies, in addition to indie darlings and tech and hardware firms," will be in attendance.

E3 will be running this year from June 13 through 16 in Los Angeles. You can find the whole tentative schedule right over here.

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'What was that noise?.. Guess it was nothin''

Ubisoft has revealed that it is working on a new A.I. scriptwriting tool, which the publisher claims will help the studio's writers by providing a "first draft" of the dialogue to be used by NPCs within its many, many, many open-world adventures.

Ubisoft Ghostwriter, for that is its name, has been developed by Ubisoft's in-house research & development department, La Forge, and is intended to auto-create various in-world chatter and "barks" utilized by the dead-eyed suburbanites that you bump into in titles such as Watch_Dogs, Assassin's Creed, and Far Cry. Ubisoft hopes that the tool will allow its writers to concentrate on "less repetitive" tasks — such as core scriptwriting and cutscene dialogue.

After the announcement, however, some developers took to social media, eyeing the new technology with more than few raised eyebrows. Sony Santa Monica's Alanah Pearce suggested that editing clumsy A.I. dialogue is likely to take longer than simply writing it, while also noting that the money spent on building and implementing Ghostwriter could be better spent on the writing team. God of War director Cory Barlog simply responded to the news with a Kratos meme, which spoke volumes.

https://twitter.com/Charalanahzard/status/1638342015678308352?s=20

Of course, even if we can see use in Ubisoft Ghostwriter, the bigger concern is the fact that this is the thin end of the wedge for gaming, scripting, and writing in general. Today, it's "NPC Barks", tomorrow, "general dialogue", a week later "dialogue outside of cutscenes, and eventually "most dialogue", conveniently saving production companies a fortune in paying editors, proofers, and writers.

With each and every "advance" in A.I. technology made by the entertainment market, we creep closer and closer to a blander technological dystopia. Admittedly impressive breakthroughs in A.I. are clearly set to be fully appropriated by the bigger companies in gaming, film, comics, music, and other forms of entertainment as a way to make faster, cheaper, and easier content to feed the masses.

Awesom-O made real.

Without hyperbole, we seem to be accelrating toward a head-on collision with the blandest, most generic, and most worker-unfriendly entertainment market we have ever seen.

Ubisoft is developing an AI tool ‘that aims to support scriptwriters [VGC]

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Give it a try

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope kind of came and went for a lot of folks, but it made a good impression all the same. Odds are you were either on the fence about it or just had a lot going on four months ago (I know most of us on staff did with all the games that were being dumped!), but now you'll have a chance to check it out for free.

As of now, a demo is out on the Nintendo Switch eShop. The demo itself is fairly meaty, providing a glimpse of the intro to the game, as well as a chunk of the first area (Beacon Beach). This game still has life in it yet, as the Tower of Doom DLC is actually out today. More DLC is on the way too, including a Rayman add-on later this year.

If you do decide to pick it up as a result of the demo, you also have the benefit of post-launch patches, which have smoothed over some of the game's bigger glitches (including a progress-halting bug for 100% completion).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjpbDzGz67U

Where to download the Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope demo

Head to this eShop listing page, and click the "download demo" icon below the title, and above the digital price text

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Ubisoft Montpellier reportedly mired in staff turmoil

Ubisoft Montpellier, the studio working on development hell sequel Beyond Good & Evil 2, is facing another setback with the departure of managing director, Guillaume Carmona, who has reportedly left the company amidst an investigation into the studio's work environment.

According to a report from Kotaku, Ubisoft Montpellier is currently under investigation by the Inspection du Travail, who became involved with the studio after an "unprecedented number of developers [began] experiencing burnout and going on sick leave". According to Kotaku's sources close to the situation, "dozens" of Montpellier employees, including project leads, have been taking extended periods of time from work, usually citing stress, burnout, or other forms of sickness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsoIUHDrPcg&ab_channel=UbisoftNorthAmerica

As the Inspection du Travail's investigation continues, staff have been reportedly informed of Carmona's departure — the MD reportedly having been absent from the studio since the start of 2023. Kotaku also claims that there have been major shifts in leadership in the development of Beyond Good and Evil 2, with the sequel's game director, Benjamin Dumaz, and senior creative director, Jean-Marc Geffroy, being replaced by Charles Gaudron and Emile Morel, respectively.

Beyond Good & Evil 2 was originally teased way back in 2008, before essentially dropping off the map for almost a decade. A cinematic trailer was premiered at E3 2018, along with a beta expectation for 2019, but the project has only seen repeated delays since then, with nary a new clip of gameplay footage, consumer demo, or further cinematic trailers surfacing in the interim. Most recently, the sequel was hit by a further delay in January, alongside news that the publisher was canceling multiple projects.

BG&E series creator Michel Ancel left Ubisoft in 2020 amidst previous investigations into widespread accusations of toxicity throughout the publisher. At the time, Ancel claimed that his departure and the allegations at the studio were coincidental. These claims were disputed by Ubisoft Montpellier employees in a report by French newspaper Libération. Ubisoft has struggled in its efforts to repair its company image in the wake of these investigations.

Beyond Good And Evil 2 Studio Head No Longer At Ubisoft [Kotaku]

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