Anticipated Return of Rayman: Ubisoft hints at 2026 remake and possible upcoming journey
In the gaming world, Ubisoft continues to make waves with its latest projects and potential future plans. Let's delve into some key developments.
Firstly, the most recent mainline entry in the Rayman series, Rayman Legends, was released in 2013. As of now, there's no news about a new Rayman game on the horizon, according to Loic Gounon, brand producer at Ubicoft Montpellier. However, if Ubisoft releases the announced Rayman remake, codenamed Steambot, by the end of 2026, it could indicate a renewed focus on revitalizing classic franchises. This could lead to more remakes or new installments in longstanding series like Rayman, alongside continued innovation across Ubisoft's major franchises.
Meanwhile, Ubisoft Montpellier and Ubisoft Milan are currently working on the future of Rayman. The success of the Rayman Remake could potentially pave the way for a new, original Rayman 4.
Moving on to Assassin's Creed, Ubisoft launched Assassin's Creed Shadows earlier this year, and it has already garnered over 5 million players as of July. Set in Feudal Japan, Assassin's Creed Shadows allows players to swap between the stealthy Naoe and the powerful Yasuke. This game, as reviewed by my colleague Zachary Boddy, is a game-of-the-year contender for 2025. Assassin's Creed Shadows is available across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (via Epic Games Store, Ubisoft, and Steam), PlayStation 5, and macOS.
Ubisoft is also reportedly working on remakes of some older Assassin's Creed games, with at least one of these remakes being a revisit of the 2013 fan-favourite, Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag. However, the Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag remake, initially slated to launch before the end of 2025, seems increasingly unlikely as of September 2, with no official announcement made yet.
Ubisoft's next mainline Assassin's Creed game, Codename Hexe, is reportedly meant to be a different experience than Shadows and the other massive role-playing games that have taken the series' spotlight over the last decade.
In addition to Assassin's Creed and Rayman, Ubisoft is also confirmed to be working on The Division 3, as well as a reported new entry in the Far Cry and Ghost Recon franchises.
Lastly, the Rabbids spinoff titles eclipsed the popularity of the original Rayman series, with crossover games like Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle and Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope featuring the Rabbids and Nintendo's Mario characters. These games are available on various platforms.
As we look towards the future, Ubisoft's strategic moves, such as restructuring and new game mode development, along with their focus on revitalizing classic franchises, promise an exciting journey for gaming enthusiasts.
