It has been close to a decade since the last Rayman game released on consoles, and despite its legacy living on through iOS and Android games, it's strange to imagine that Ubisoft would get lax on one of its most recognizable platformers. At this point it seems the Rabbids, who were originally spawned from the Rayman series, are getting more screen time than their older counterpart - even achieving a collaborative game series with Super Mario Bros.
Some big questions arise in the absence of a new Rayman entry, ranging from whether it's still popular enough to merit a new game to whether Ubisoft should simply hand Rayman over to another studio. At a time when nostalgic series are seeing revivals, and games that break AAA development conventions are more appreciated than ever, now would be the perfect opportunity to bring Rayman back.
The Current State of Rayman
Rayman is very much a product of its time, as the titular character and others like Crash Bandicoot or Spyro the Dragon all contributed to a common trend of mascot characters. Rayman was among the first to hit the gaming scene and has been able to survive for a number of reasons. For one, Rayman was created by Michel Ancel, and with its vibrant, fantastical world and a unique range of movement and combat mechanics, it easily stood out. Additionally, Rayman was quick to make a smooth transition from 2D to 3D, even if it jumped back to 2D with the likes of Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends.
At present, there is no official word about a new Rayman game, with fans having to make do with less-than ideal iOS or Android games such as 2019's Rayman Mini. Former Ubisoft chief creative officer Serge Hascoet (who resigned in 2020 following sexual misconduct allegations) told Game Informer in 2018 that, "When we do Rayman or games like that, we don't sell as much as Assassin's Creed [...] We have more success with the more adult-rated titles." It's a cynical perspective, but one that's hard to argue with considering large entities like Ubisoft have to focus on their bottom lines.
There Was a Rayman 4 in Development
If this remains Ubisoft's official stance, maybe it's time for the studio to hand the reins over to a different studio who would be happy for the opportunity to work with a recognizable name. This might have been the case when Rayman 4 was in development with Phoenix Studio, being the first game developed for the franchise outside of Ubisoft Montepellier. After just four short months the game was abruptly canceled with no official reason given, and Ubisoft resumed development itself under the direction of Ancel, leading to the eventual creation of Rayman Raving Rabbids.
There is a remarkable amount of concept art, level design details, and even gameplay footage available online from the Rayman 4 prototype, which can give fans an insight into what they could have expected. Concept art shows ideas such as the ability to explore underwater utilizing a Rayman-inspired submarine, or the conception of a "Dark Rayman" who may have been the game's antagonist. Sadly, much of this will likely be lost to time, culminating in nothing more than a teaser trailer for what Ubisoft might have intended to be Rayman 4.
The Potential Still Exists For Rayman 4
As much as players could respect Ubisoft's commitment to carrying on the torch for its more profitable series, there has been a turning point within the gaming industry in recent years. The huge successes of remakes like the Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy and Spyro Reignited Trilogy even led to new games such as Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, demonstrating there's never been a better time for Rayman to return. Even Ancel has said he wants Rayman 4 to be completed.
If Ubisoft hands the keys to a studio that could do the series justice, one excellent option would be Toys for Bob - which has already proven its worth with the aforementioned Crash Bandicoot and Spyro franchises. However, Ubisoft should have no trouble finding other studios who would happily take the franchise off its hands. Perhaps even former studio heads Paul Reiche and Fred Ford could take on Rayman on with their new independent studio. Regardless, Ubisoft would be misguided to not capitalize on the sleeping giant it has under its control, as just listening to fans who were hopeful that Rayman would appear in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and the ongoing success of the Rabbids franchise should tell the studio all it needs to know.
Source: Game Informer