Rayman's Return? Creator Spills Secrets Ubisoft Doesn't Want You To Know!

The whispers are getting louder, folks. Rumors of a Rayman remake continue to swirl, fueled by none other than the game's very own creator, Michel Ancel. And honestly, the more we hear, the more excited we get.

Rayman's Return? Creator Spills Secrets Ubisoft Do...

In a recent interview with RetroGamer, Ancel dropped some intriguing hints. He clarified that this isn't just your run-of-the-mill remaster with a fresh coat of paint. Instead, he describes it as a "remake" that's actively trying to fix some of the pain points from the original. Think: much-needed checkpoints to ease the, shall we say, *occasional* frustration. As someone who remembers throwing a controller or two back in the day, I'm all for that!

Remember that little teaser Ubisoft dropped for Rayman's 30th anniversary? "Rayman turns 30! Join us on our official channels to celebrate an incredible legacy," they posted, complete with a celebratory video. In that video, brand producer Loic Gounon, a Rayman veteran since 2006, revealed that teams at Ubisoft Montpellier and Ubisoft Milan are actually collaborating on the future of the limbless wonder. It was subtle, but for die-hard fans, it was practically a confirmation.

Now, here's where things get a little murky. This Rayman buzz comes at a time of significant upheaval at Ubisoft. They've recently axed six games, including the heavily anticipated Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake (ouch!). Seven other titles have been pushed back, and they're closing studios and laying off staff. It's a period of...transition, to put it mildly.

While the Prince of Persia cancellation got a lot of attention, the other scrapped games were kept largely under wraps. We know three were new IPs, and one was a mobile game. As for the delayed titles? Speculation is rampant, but many believe the unannounced Assassin's Creed: Black Flag remaster, initially planned for release before March 31, is among them. Word on the street is we will not see the title released before March 31, 2027.

The big question, of course, is where a Rayman remake fits into Ubisoft's current strategy. They seem to be heavily invested in open-world and live-service games. And let's not forget the quiet release of that NFT game featuring Rayman, Captain Laserhawk: The G.A.M.E., in late 2024. It didn't exactly set the world on fire, likely because, well, NFTs. A classic Rayman platformer is a different beast entirely, and I, for one, am keeping my fingers crossed.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.