The Far Cry franchise is known for its open worlds, unique villains, and chaotic freedom, but Ubisoft is shifting it in a new direction.
During the New Global Sport Conference in Saudi Arabia, CEO Yves Guillemot noted that multiplayer will play a much bigger role in future titles.
Multiplayer keeps people playing long after the campaign ends.
Guillemot said the goal is for Far Cry to hold players’ attention over time as part of Ubisoft’s live-service plans.
What Do the Rumors Say About Far Cry’s Future?
Reports over the last two years suggest that Ubisoft is developing two major Far Cry projects under this new strategy.
The first project, known internally as Blackbird and believed to be Far Cry 7, is expected to serve as the next mainline release.
Rumors indicate that the story will center on rescuing family members from a dangerous cult, all while racing against a countdown clock that gives players just seventy-two in-game hours to succeed.
This mechanic would bring a new level of tension to the series, and with sliding, vaulting, and tactical sprinting, it could be the most ambitious Far Cry yet.
The game is moving from the Dunia engine to Snowdrop, the same engine used for The Division and Star Wars Outlaws.
Is Maverick the Bold New Far Cry Experiment?
Ubisoft has another multiplayer title in development, codenamed Maverick, which is an extraction survival shooter in the Alaskan wilds.
Players must gather supplies, fight off rival groups, survive wolf and bear attacks, and endure harsh weather while escaping with their loot.
Reports suggest Maverick has had repeated reboots and re-evaluations due to resources being redirected to Far Cry 7.
Some at Ubisoft doubt the game brings enough originality beyond its brand, fearing it may just be a Far Cry-flavored version of an existing genre.
Is Ubisoft Risking the Series’ Identity?
For many fans, the issue isn’t with multiplayer itself since the series has dabbled in co-op and versus play before, from Far Cry 3’s four-player missions to Far Cry 4’s open-world co-op.
The core of Far Cry has always been its single-player focus, with one character surviving in a hostile world.
Focusing the franchise on multiplayer raises concerns about Ubisoft’s ability to maintain its identity.
Players on forums and social media are already raising concerns that this shift could make Far Cry into a live-service game filled with battle passes, microtransactions, and seasonal updates.
Did Far Cry 6 Push Ubisoft to Reinvent the Series?
The shadow of Far Cry 6 lingers, as the 2021 release was one of the weakest in the series due to its RPG systems.
Ubisoft has been under pressure to reinvent Far Cry, though reinvention always carries risk.
Leaning too heavily into service-style multiplayer might boost longevity, but it risks pushing away the core fans who carried the franchise for twenty years.
Fans are concerned the single-player mode may end up as a hollow shell held up by monetization.
A new joint venture between Ubisoft and Tencent now oversees some of Ubisoft’s biggest series, including Assassin’s Creed, Rainbow Six, and Far Cry.
Tencent’s grounding in online and mobile gaming gives it service model insight, and the collaboration may be playing a role in Far Cry’s move to multiplayer.
Long-time followers see it as proof that profit is being placed above innovation.
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