What Rayman Legends Retold Is Trying to Be
Rayman Legends Retold is a modern platformer remake of Ubisoft’s 2013 Rayman Legends that keeps the original’s acclaimed level design while replacing its presentation, structure, and technology with a new 3D-inspired art style, expanded world layout, updated storytelling, and added cooperative features to appeal to both returning fans and a younger audience unfamiliar with the series. Ubisoft Montpellier and Ubisoft Milan are treating the project as a chance to “rebuild Rayman’s foundations,” with a large, more connected world and fully redone cutscenes and voice work. Built in the Snowdrop Engine, the remake aims to feel like a current platformer rather than a light touch-up of a 2D classic. The core campaign remains the draw, but Ubisoft is positioning the package as more than a graphical facelift, which makes its price and audience targeting central questions.
Visual Overhaul and Switch 2 Graphics Ambitions
Rayman Legends already aged well, but Retold pushes for a more immersive 3D-style look while preserving the series’ colorful, illustrated charm. Levels are richer with depth and effects, and Snowdrop allows higher-fidelity lighting and animation without discarding the original’s playful silhouettes and timing-heavy platforming. On Switch 2, Ubisoft is leaning hard on technical polish to make the remake feel current alongside other platformer remakes. According to a discussion reported by GoNintendo, the Switch 2 version targets 60 frames per second in both handheld and docked modes, uses ray tracing techniques, outputs at 1080p portable and 4K when docked through DLSS, and is said to be “on par with the Xbox Series S [version in terms of] quality.” For a series long linked to Nintendo hardware, that parity matters to fans weighing where to buy.
New Content, Sixth World and Online Co-op
To support the pitch that Rayman Legends Retold is “more than a remake,” Ubisoft is adding content rather than only reskinning what already worked. The most notable change is an entirely new sixth world, which introduces fresh mechanics and a different visual mood compared to the original’s themed zones. Alongside that new realm, the remake restructures progression into a larger, more connected overworld intended to sell a stronger sense of adventure. Storytelling is also more ambitious: cutscenes are completely reworked, with new voice acting layered on top of returning characters to make the narrative easier for newcomers to follow. Multiplayer gets the biggest functional upgrade, with online four-player co-op supplementing the existing couch co-op, plus the return of side attractions like Kung Foot and an expanded soundtrack. For players who value replayable party modes and shared runs, these additions are the main reason to prefer Retold.
The $39.99 Question: Who Is This Platformer Remake For?
Rayman Legends Retold launches at USD 39.99 (approx. RM190), a mid-tier price that raises tough questions about Ubisoft remake pricing and target audience. The original Rayman Legends still looks good and plays smoothly on modern hardware, and it often sells at heavy discounts on PC storefronts. That makes the visual overhaul and new content compete directly with a much cheaper version of the same core game. For newcomers who have never touched Rayman, Retold is the cleanest, most technically polished entry point, especially if they want online co-op or plan to play on Switch 2 with 4K support. For veterans who already own the game and mainly care about pure platforming, the value is less obvious unless online features or the new world sound essential. Rumors of a bundled enhanced Rayman Origins, if confirmed, would improve the package, but Ubisoft has not made that a clear selling point yet.
Audience Positioning and the Risk of a Beautiful Redo
Rayman Legends Retold sits in an awkward place among platformer remakes. It lacks the obvious need case of something like a survival horror title whose original controls and visuals feel dated, because Legends still holds up. Ubisoft appears to be targeting a younger group that ignores anything labeled 2013, while also hoping long-time fans will double-dip for Switch 2 graphics, online co-op, and the sixth world. That split focus may explain why the messaging around who benefits most from upgrading feels unclear. For platformer enthusiasts new to Rayman, Retold looks like the best way to experience a fan-favorite, with strong technical performance and quality-of-life additions. For everyone else, the decision comes down to how much they value sharper visuals and new modes over replaying a cheaper version that already shines. A stunning remake can still feel unnecessary if it cannot clearly explain who it exists to serve.
