Rayman 4’s prototype source code seems to have been leaked online, and it contains key components such as a level editor, models, cutscenes, and other features. For those unfamiliar, the Rayman series was one of Ubisoft’s flagship properties from the late 1990s through the early 2000s. That all changed in 2006 when Rayman Raving Rabbids was released, spawning the Rabbids spin-off series. Since then, the Rabbids have gradually but steadily displaced Rayman, with the latter apparently growing less and less prominent over time. Rayman Legends, the final franchise entry in the Rayman series before re-releases, was published in 2013.
Prior to Rayman Raving Rabbids, development was being done on a real Rayman 4 by Phoenix Studio, not Ubisoft. According to reports, it began development in 2005 but was halted after just a few months. Ubisoft’s Rayman Raving Rabbids title was previously created under the name Rayman 4 before changing its idea and title. Concept drawings, early versions, and other materials were uploaded online throughout time, some donated by former developers. This leak, on the other hand, is one of the largest, including an alpha build and source code for the aborted project.
A user known as @RibShark shared their discoveries via Rayman 4’s source code, which included a level editor and much more, in a Twitter thread. This features early prototype-level layouts and mechanisms, such as ridable characters. Images and videos revealed potential difficulties and stages, such as a Rabbid Robot monster that Rayman blows apart from the inside, or a level called “Sphincter Cell,” a clear spoof of sibling Ubisoft property Splinter Cell.
LIKE THE SOURCE CODE AND THE EDITOR AND EVERYTHING pic.twitter.com/19VCLxcDrX
— RibShark (@RibShark) December 24, 2022
This leak was initially shared on 4Chan, where fans have been combing through its contents to play the test levels and ideas, according to boards GBATemp and ResetEra. Other discoveries include missing sequences and a model of Rayman’s girlfriend, who was supposed to make her debut in this game. Some joked that the leak was a “Christmas miracle” because of its timely release, while others hoped that the game might be stitched together in a coherent manner like the Duke Nukem Forever 2001 Restoration Project.
Rayman fans have been offered a bone this year, with the disclosure of this source code and the announcement of Rayman DLC for Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope. While some are pleased that the character will be the centre of this DLC, others believe that the Rayman series, rather than an extension to an existing game, is overdue for a genuine revival with a new game.
