Rayman’s 30th Anniversary Tease: Can Ubisoft Nail the Comeback?

As a lifelong fan who logged more hours on Rayman Origins’ musical levels than I’m proud to admit, Ubisoft’s recent 30th anniversary retrospective had me both giddy and wary. After more than a decade without a mainline entry, the series that quietly defined modern platforming is stirring again. In a short celebratory video released on September 1, 2025, Ubisoft Montpellier paid tribute to Rayman’s 1995 debut—floating hands, helicopter hair and hand-crafted levels—and brand producer Loïc Gounon dropped the key line: “A very talented team from Montpellier and Milan is hard at work on the future of Rayman,” he said verbatim, adding that the project is “in good hands.”

Rayman’s Enduring Legacy

Rayman Origins (2011) and Legends (2013) remain touchstones for crisp animation, tight controls and co-op chaos. They demonstrated that platformers could thrive without battle passes or seasonal content. UbiArt’s fluid art style inspired indie hits like Hollow Knight and Celeste, while speedrunners still push Origins’ musical levels to sub-two-minute finishes. Yet since Legends, Rayman’s adventures have largely been relegated to mobile spin-offs and Rabbids crossovers, and creator Michel Ancel’s departure in 2020 only deepened the sense that the limbless hero might fade entirely.

Why Ubisoft Is Betting on Rayman Now

Platformers are enjoying a renaissance—look at the critical and commercial success of Metroid Dread, Sonic Mania and remastered trilogies for Crash and Spyro. Big publishers are rediscovering that premium, replayable experiences can stand apart from live-service fatigue. For Ubisoft, reviving Rayman taps an underutilized IP with strong brand recognition and low development risk compared to launching a new franchise. It also signals a shift away from microtransaction-heavy mobile titles that diluted the series’ identity.

What We Know: The ‘Steambot’ Whisper

• Project codename: “Steambot”, first spotted in Ubisoft career listings in early 2024 for roles in 2D animation and network play.
• Studios: Montpellier (Origins, Legends, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown) and Milan (Mario + Rabbids series, Rayman DLC Sparks of Hope).
• Timeline: Rumors from industry outlets like VGC and GamesIndustry.biz suggest development began in mid-2024, aiming for a late 2026 release window if all goes smoothly.
• Engine: Likely a modern in-house toolchain that replicates UbiArt’s layered parallax look at 120 fps on next-gen hardware, rather than the original pipeline.

While a remake of the first Rayman or Rayman 2: The Great Escape remains possible, many insiders believe a brand-new mainline entry is Ubisoft Montpellier’s real goal—to reassert Rayman’s identity rather than rehash it.

Lessons from Successful Revivals

The N. Sane Trilogy for Crash and the Reignited Trilogy for Spyro proved that faithful remakes can reignite interest without diluting a brand. Meanwhile, Sonic Mania showed that a new, lovingly crafted 2D platformer can win over both nostalgic fans and newcomers. Rayman’s UbiArt heritage gives Montpellier and Milan a head start: they know how to blend hand-drawn artistry with modern polish. But Ubisoft must avoid over-telescoping scope—cram too much new tech and post-launch monetization into Rayman’s whimsical world, and the magic fades fast.

Concrete Risks and Red Flags

• Monetization creep: Ubisoft has experimented with battle passes in non-core titles; turning Lums into premium currency would betray Rayman’s roots.
• Scope bloat: Montpellier’s finesse thrives in focused 2D design, but adding a sprawling live-service layer risks delays or cancellations (a pattern we’ve seen in other long-gestating Ubi projects).
• Technical mismatch: Striking the right balance between modern performance (120 fps, near-instant loads) and handcrafted level design is tougher than it looks.

What Gamers Should Watch For

• Event timing: Ubisoft Forward (mid-2025) and late-year showcases are prime spots for an initial teaser. A gameplay deep dive might land at Gamescom or The Game Awards.
• Job postings: Listings for co-op network engineers, 2D animators and level-design leads on Ubisoft’s careers site often precede formal announcements by six to nine months.
• Platform focus: PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC seem assured; a Switch-successor announcement feels likely. If we see Switch-1 titles in 2026 listings, suspect a scaled-back port rather than a full cross-gen launch.
• Design breadcrumbs: Early footage featuring musical platforming, drop-in couch co-op or speedrun timers would confirm Montpellier’s DNA is intact.

Comparing Ubisoft’s Recent Hits and Misses

The Lost Crown (2024) reminded us that Montpellier can still ship a polished 2D title with tight controls and irresistible art. Conversely, some live-service experiments from other Ubisoft teams fell flat. If “Steambot” hews to The Lost Crown’s focus—single-purchase entry, robust offline play and optional cosmetic DLC—fans will rally. But if it veers toward subscription fees or daily login incentives, it’ll trigger skepticism faster than you can say “Lums.”

The Road to 2026: A Fan’s Wish List

Here’s what would make me—and many others—celebrate:

1. Authentic art direction that channels UbiArt’s rich textures.
2. Seamless drop-in co-op for up to four players, online and off.
3. Non-intrusive progression: full game included in the box, with optional skins or soundtrack packs as paid extras.
4. Musical levels that teach via melody, not walls of text.
5. A clear roadmap snippet—maybe a Year 1 update plan without a battle pass.

Conclusion: Cautious Hope, Clear Benchmarks

Ubisoft’s 30th anniversary video and Loïc Gounon’s promise prime the pump for Rayman’s return. Montpellier and Milan bring the right pedigrees, and the indie-and-big-studio platformer revival lends real momentum. But we’ve been burned by vague anniversaries before. For Rayman’s comeback to truly succeed, Ubisoft must deliver a confident, modern platformer that remembers why millions fell in love in 1995—prioritizing handcrafted levels over monetization, tight controls over live-service frills. I’m cautiously optimistic. If “Steambot” nails these fundamentals, we’ll finally see Rayman bounce back from the shadows. Otherwise, we’ll be left juggling lums in a nostalgia sandbox.