With the stellar launch of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, Ubisoft has found a desperately needed upswing. It’s one of their signature franchises and not the only one that needs a breath of fresh air. There’s another series of despots, rebels, and cartels (Oh my!) called Far Cry. Vantage Studios and Ubisoft are looking to double down on that franchise in a literal way.
A Library of Violence
Ubisoft‘s Far Cry has seen a lucrative two decades. The games have been set virtually anywhere from tropical islands to the African savanna to Southern Asia to rural Western America. Developers have seen fit to drop gamers into living playgrounds armed with a weapon and the ability to create chaos both physically and politically. The latest entry, Far Cry 6, was released back in 2021. Though many players may still be causing mayhem in its wild, cartel-ridden islands, fans of the series can rest assured more fun is on the way. Two new projects are in active development for the franchise. It might be a while before we see them, though.
Project Blackbird
Codenamed Blackbird, this first title will be a numbered release. Very much a victim of Ubisoft’s major corporate restructuring over the last few years, Blackbird was one of the few projects shelved and delayed. Seemingly back on track, the game is said to deliver a familiar Far Cry experience, coupled with cooperative multiplayer. Post-restructuring, Vantage Studios became the new home for the Far Cry series. Interestingly enough, Charlie Guillemot, one of its developers, claims that progress on Blackbird is “Honestly impressive.” More than that, concepts introduced with its release, if successful, will shape the future of the Far Cry series.
Kodiak
Meanwhile, for better or worse, extraction shooters are a hot commodity in modern gaming. Far Cry caught the bug, then it was slapped. What was codenamed Maverick is now Kodiak. The new title is built off the foundations of project Maverick and was recently greenlit for full, active development. The team at Vantage Studios says Kodiak will champion player agency and interaction. Whether this concept will spearhead a multiplayer-driven experience or a heavily branching narrative is up in the air.
Though details are slim, Ubisoft and Vantage have a few irons in the fire. They’re currently riding the success of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, its first release post-restructure. Hopefully, Far Cry fans can expect a solid return to form. We’ll provide more details on these games as they become available.
