One of Ubisoft's more left-field projects - and one of its best, we'd argue - is Child of Light. The game originally launched on Wii U back in 2014 and has since seen a rerelease on Switch, both times enchanting our minds enough to have us hoping for another helping with a lovely sequel or two.
At one stage, a sequel seemed very likely indeed - the game's creative director once said that some "very cool projects" for the Child of Light universe were in the works, and eventually shared an image teasing a 'Child of Light 2' - but it would appear that the game isn't on the way after all.
Speaking to VGC, the very same creative director, Patrick Plourde, has revealed that the game is well formed in his head but isn't being worked on - to the best of his knowledge, at least.
“I know the major beats, the location, and that it would feature multiple protagonists. It would have two protagonists going on different paths in life with different motivations, linked by their friendship.
“I don’t know if there’s a Child of Light 2 that is in production, Ubisoft is big, but I’m not working on it. Right now, I don’t think there’s a Child of Light 2 being produced… I’m not holding my breath.”
Plourde tells VGC that the plan for Child of Light 2 was partly inspired by Swan Lake, with its story exploring love, friendship, and how people change as they grow up.
It's a shame that we might never get to see this in action, but the situation seems almost fitting. Another inspiration for the game's theme of people and the way in which they change came from the dev team who worked on the original game - a team which has now, for the most part, disbanded.
Have you played Child of Light? Would you have liked to see this sequel make it to release? Let us know in the usual place.
[source videogameschronicle.com]
Comments 41
The first one was quite enjoyable
Ubisoft can focus for other franchises, such as Petz series, Imagine series, etc. 😏
For those unaware, there's a double pack of Child of Light and Valiant Hearts available as a physical release for the Switch.
That would be a good way to show your support of these projects.
That’s a shame, I really loved the first one. The art was beautiful and the battle mechanics were really satisfying. It was one of those games that had we itching to get back home from work so I could play some more!
of course not because Ubisoft can't turn it into a open world grind fest or an Assassin's Creed title so they don't care
Won’t happen for the same reason another Rayman won’t happen: it’s a not open world game about collected a billion things, climbing towers and tricking the player into thinking that they’ve changed this formula by throwing RPG stats at them.
Gutted. not writing any more stuff Nintendo life you fascists
@RupeeClock Yup, just searched Amazon and found it, had completely forgot about this game, ah well, another for the backlog
Sad, because that would be one of the ways for me to get a Ubisoft game that doesn't include Nintendo characters.
Knowing the major beats and location of a story is a VERY far cry from that story being well formed in your head. It's basically "I have an idea that might be cool, but I have done absolutely no work on it whatsoever". There's no doubt or uncertainty here, the guy is doing everything but tell you flat out that this will never happen.
@Moon There was definitely an EU download update yesterday. You must have missed it.
As for Child of Light, I’m fine with the lack of sequel. Not everything needs a sequel. Now if the same development team go on to create another RPG, wonderful. But it doesn’t need to be a Child of Light 2. Sequelitis is far too common in video games (and films, for that matter).
@Krull Thank you.
That's disappointing. I really enjoyed this game. The combat was oddly reminiscent of Paper Mario's turn-based combat from the first 2 installments
It doesn't need to be a sequel, but could be nice to have a spiritual successor game that takes place at same world as Child of Light, but that's probably too risky for Ubisoft to pull off that.
Shame, I would be interested in a sequel. I enjoyed the first game quite a bit, although so far, not enough to rebuy it for Switch. Maybe someday!
I really enjoyed playing through this with my 8-yo daughter. Her first (and so far only, she normally has little interest) RPG!
That’s too bad. I thoroughly enjoyed Child of Light. His idea for a sequel sounds compelling as well.
@FullbringIchigo Unfortunately, the open world cash grabs seem to be what the public wants. I've heard this game, along with other cases of Ubisoft trying to do something unique like: Rayman Legends, Starlink minus Star Fox, and even No More Heroes back in the day don't actually sell very well. You can blame the publishers all day long, but if millions of people bypass these games to preorder the next looter-shooter trash fire, what are they going to do?
Such a shame. Recall some pretty definitive noises coming out few years back that CHILD OF LIGHT 2 was coming. Bizarre such remarks would be made - several tweets from not just this person - if production had never even began on a follow-up.
Gutted, this and THE WOLF AMONG US never got the sequels they deserved.
@TheFox sadly there is nothing they can do, as much as i loathe them "games as a service" are very popular and i don't understand why
perhaps it is all about that "gambling" thrill
@Wawawaaaario
It's a sad world we live in when beautiful, more artsy games are not made anymore because they're "too risky".
To me, this would be like movies not being made anymore unless they're produced by Michael Bay, or similar in tone. (Which is almost true if you look at what's hitting the cineplexes, mostly).
I'm really thankful that there are some people out there still doing movies, music and games by passion. It's just that we need to get our heads out of the more commercial channels to get them.
I guess that's what we get now that games have become mainstream enough to become "products". I kind of miss the old days when a game being creative, weird and different was actually a selling point.
I gotta say that image doesn't look like it's teasing Child of Light 2. It looks like the original and he's showing the Switch port.
And I agree with other posters here. A sequel isn't necessary but a spiritual sequel would be nice.
Child of Light is a special game, one of the most touching and beautiful RPGs. First of all I wish they would fix the frame rate in the Switch version. It's very high, but looks like it keeps snagging on something every half second or so. Pretty annoying! PS3 and Wii U handle it fine, so is it the middleware development software? Anyways, amazing game and I wish Child of Light 2 or a similar vein game was in development.
I don't think game like this needs a sequel anyways, it looks like the game itself already got the whole story cover.
Lovely game. I was thinking about it just recently as I played through the new Steam World - lots of similarities between the two. More pathos in Child of Light, plus you can fly around as a cute little red-head girl barely able to lift her sword. For a while.
Sad news to hear. I enjoyed Child of light the first time on my Vita. I found out about the physical copy double pack of Child of light/ Valiant Hearts for switch and picked it up recently. About 10 hours in already on the game for switch.
But another rehash of garbage Assassin Creed 3 is worth it 🙄
@Purgatorium the Switch is indeed displaying the original, the reason it was considered a tease for the sequel is the document behind (and slightly to the right) the Switch that appears to say “Child of Light II” on it.
I just want to know what's going on with Beyond Good & Evil 2.
I loved this game and have beaten it several times. Please make a sequel!!!
Yeah the original was great. Loved the soundtrack too and bought it on bandcamp.
Child of Light, Rayman, and Mario + Rabbids all need sequels. Come on Ubi
So disappointed. I thought there was no way that tease could be accidental... In fact I still don’t believe it was. Too blatant. I wonder what happened? Could be a good article there someday 🗣
Wow that sucks, about the only thing Ubisoft had that was interesting these days
I've completed Child of Light on Xbox One and Switch both. It's amazing, to say the least, but I'd just as soon the devs went on to create something entirely different. I'm more than a bit burned out on sequels. Just because you can doesn't mean you should, even if in this case they can't.
While I did enjoy the first game I didnt enjoy it to the point that I would want a sequel made, it was good but not outstanding, I would much rather have a new Rayman like Legends or even better, Rayman 2 The Great Escape.
It's something I need to go back to and complete.
@Dpishere I agree with your post, I think the game stands by itself well enough.
And I love your Okami "Ammy" image, now that was a GREAT game!
@dugan Ha ha thanks! Yeah it is an all time classic for me, really need to get it on Switch. Okamiden was pretty good too if you haven't tried it yet.
@ShadJV Aha I see that now, thanks.
That's a damn shame if there's no sequel. Child of Light was one of the best RPGs I have ever played. The art style, music battle system were all wonderful. I used to love RPGs and lately I cant find any that pique my interest. Seems like its all cookie cutter nonsense with uninteresting progression and battle system. Sad that ubisoft wants to keep churning out the mainstream bs rather than devoting a small dev team with small budget to make another gem like they did with the first child of light.
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