Rayman creator spills details on Ubisoft remake
Veteran designer Michel Ancel has shed fresh light on a long-rumoured Rayman remake, even as uncertainty grows over whether the project will ever see the light of day following Ubisoft’s recent restructuring.
Rayman designer Michel Ancel has shed fresh light on the long-rumoured remake.
Speaking in an interview with RetroGamer, Ancel suggested that a modernised version of the original Rayman had been in development, albeit with a lighter touch than a full reimagining.
While he admitted he could no longer recall all the specifics, Ancel said the remake was expected to run in HD and include quality-of-life tweaks such as additional checkpoints to reduce frustration for newer players.
He described the original as “still a fun game” whose deliberate pacing and pixel-precise platforming remain distinctive today, but acknowledged its lack of save points could be off-putting for less experienced audiences.
The comments add fuel to what has become one of gaming’s worst-kept secrets.
An unannounced “Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition” has already appeared on the Australian Classification Board, listed for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch with a family-friendly G rating.
The filing unusually names Atari as both publisher and developer, though neither Atari nor Ubisoft has formally acknowledged the project.
Ubisoft itself previously hinted at Rayman’s future, as last year, brand producer Loïc Gounon confirmed that teams at Ubisoft Montpellier and Ubisoft Milan were working on what comes next for the franchise, cautioning fans to expect a long wait for updates.
Job listings around the same time also referenced a “prestigious AAA title” tied to the Rayman brand.
However, the outlook has since darkened, as Ubisoft’s recent “reset” saw multiple studio closures and high-profile cancellations, including the long-delayed Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake.
With those cuts wiping a significant chunk off the company’s share price, it’s now unclear whether Rayman’s reported remake has survived the upheaval.
