Far Cry Has Become A Shadow Of Its Former Self

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Shaheer Zahid

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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Far Cry is one of those IPs that laid the foundation for open-world games and the infamous Ubisoft template. The series is definitely one of the biggest franchises ever made by Ubisoft in its peak era.

However, Far Cry hasn’t had a good entry in many years, in my opinion. It has regressed in recent years, with the sixth entry being the final nail in the coffin. The franchise is far from over, but I don’t trust Ubisoft with the IP again.

There are already leaks about the next entry, but they seem far from intriguing. In my opinion, Far Cry won’t ever be the same again, and the franchise is closer to dying than being resurrected.

Why it matters: The downfall of such a staple IP shows how Ubisoft has changed for the worse over the years. The future of Far Cry isn’t that shiny and bright, and the franchise may never fully recover.

What Went Wrong?

Several things went wrong with the franchise, but the most important thing I’d say was the lack of innovation. Ubisoft stopped trying to innovate with the IP, which caused it to regress over the years.

We can all agree that the series peaked with the third entry, which was groundbreaking in every aspect. Far Cry 3 is one of the best video games ever made for several reasons. Thanks to its antagonist, gameplay, and open-world mechanics, it stands out as a critical entry.

The spin-off, Far Cry: Blood Dragon, is also one of the best spin-offs ever. More so, the game feels entirely different. The sci-fi setting showcased how innovative Ubisoft was at that time.

Far Cry 4 borrowed much from its predecessor, and it was a decent game overall. However, this is where the franchise began to run out of steam, relying on established tropes and ideas.

By the time Ubisoft launched Far Cry Primal, the repetition problem was on full display. This game was basically a reskinned Far Cry 4 with a different setting. While the changes were interesting in some ways, it was clear that Ubisoft needed to change things up.

However, the series never quite found its footing again. Far Cry 6 is arguably the worst entry this IP has ever seen. The narrative was all over the place, and it felt like Ubisoft mashed together various clashing concepts into a single game. The so-called “AAAA” title from Ubisoft failed to live up to its predecessors.

The Antagonist Problem

The IP is known for featuring some of the most iconic antagonists ever in video games. Vaas from Far Cry 3 is recognizable to almost everyone. Pagan Min, Joseph Seed, and Antón Castillo were also quite memorable.

However, Ubisoft couldn’t balance the villains and the other elements. The latest entry highlights this issue the best, with Ubisoft’s whole selling point for Far Cry 6 becoming its villain, Antón Castillo, played by Giancarlo Esposito.

The actor has played iconic characters, such as Gus Fring in Breaking Bad, so Ubisoft bet on him to sell the game. However, the villain was barely in the game, which was bizarre after the marketing was practically centered around him.

What’s Next For The Franchise?

Two Far Cry titles—Far Cry 7 and a multiplayer title—are currently in development. Project Maverick and Blackbird were initially a single title but were later split into two.

Future Far Cry games are being taken in an entirely different direction, with Drew Holmes taking the project lead. Drew has plenty of experience with narrative games, having worked on Far Cry 5 and Bioshock: Infinite.

The director also promises big things for the franchise. However, I won’t set my expectations high, although I do appreciate the new direction the franchise is headed in.

Future Far Cry games are also expected to be based on the Snowdrop engine, a departure from the previous entries that used Dunia and Cryengine.

Shaheer Zahid

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Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

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