Rayman’s Creator: Sony Rejected Promoting First PlayStation Game

In a recent interview coinciding with the release of Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition, Michel Ancel, creator of the Rayman franchise, revealed that Sony declined to promote the original Rayman game for the PlayStation at a key industry event due to its 2D graphics. The revelation, first reported by Spanish gaming website Vandal, sheds light on the console manufacturer’s strategic push towards 3D gaming in the mid-1990s.

Ancel recounted the incident took place at the European Computer Trade Show (ECTS) in London, as Sony was showcasing the PlayStation alongside titles like Toshinden, Ridge Racer, and Destruction Derby. Ubisoft, the publisher of Rayman, presented the game at their own booth, but found it absent from Sony’s display. According to Ancel, Sony representatives informed the Ubisoft team, “The 2D is finished, guys.”

Despite the lack of promotional support, Rayman went on to develop into the best-selling PlayStation game in the United Kingdom, a fact Ancel highlighted as particularly ironic given Sony’s initial dismissal. The original Rayman debuted in 1995 for PlayStation, Atari Jaguar, and Sega Saturn.

Michel Ancel, born in Monaco in 1972, began his career in game development at the age of 16, eventually joining Ubi Soft as a graphic artist. He is credited with designing the graphics for several early Ubisoft titles before leading the development of Rayman. He continued to direct and design subsequent Rayman games, including Rayman Origins (2011) and Rayman Legends (2013), before retiring from game design in 2020.

The release of Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition follows years of speculation regarding the future of the franchise. Ubisoft confirmed earlier this month that multiple Rayman projects were in development, with the anniversary edition being the first to materialize. The remastered edition launched on February 12, 2026, as part of a State of Play showcase.