Originally released way back in 2003, the now cult-classic action/adventure platforming video game Beyond Good & Evil developed and published by Ubisoft and created by industry icon Michel Ancel - who also insitgated the long-running Rayman franchise - has been circling a full-blown sequel for quite some time now. Following the release of an exclusive bit of concept art from the forthcoming NX exclusive title, potential players of the French video game designer's impending Beyond Good & Evil 2  have had some reason of late to get excited for a return to the much beloved gaming property of the early 2000s.

Despite the fact that the first game in the series was a commercial failure, the series has enjoyed considerable acclaim in the intervening years - including the release of a digital HD remaster of the original title that was published in 2011. The ultimate fate of Beyond Good & Evil 2 has largely remained unknown for the majority of the time it has spent in various stages of pre-production under the watchful eye of series creator Ancel. However, the latest word has big news regarding the shape and form that the highly anticipated game will take.

According to Let's Play Video Games, Beyond Good & Evil 2 will serve as a semi-reboot of the Beyond Good & Evil franchise, as opposed to a direct sequel to the first game. Centering around the origin stories of central protagonists Jade and Pey'j, and then providing further clarification and an expanded ending based on the cliffhanger that greeted players initially in 2003, the upcoming Ubisoft title will reportedly offer newcomers and longtime fans alike a way to jump back into the action without missing a beat. Check out the full video discussion below:

No doubt some fans might be a bit disappointed that the new game will not be a proper sequel, but the decision on Ancel's part to make Beyond Good & Evil 2 a semi-reboot as opposed to a direct continuation of the original title is probably for the best - considering how long it has taken to move the game forward into production. Slated to feature a subtitle (perhaps the previously-discussed Beyond Good & Evil: The Prejudices of Philosophers), the new release should provide closure for fans who were left hanging the first go around, if nothing else.

Ancel's original action/adventure platformer struck a chord with players around the world, and any further news of its upcoming second installment from Ubisoft is more than likely to be met with both applause and scrutiny in regards to whatever direction the series takes next. Either way, the fact that Beyond Good & Evil 2 will be made at all is more than enough reason for fans of the series to rejoice - and perhaps introduce the game for the first time to a whole new generation of players.

Beyond Good & Evil 2 is tentatively slated to release in the U.S. on the Nintendo NX by Summer 2018.

Source: Let's Play Video Games