Nowadays, it seems like practically every major video game developer wants to dive into the world of multiplayer gaming. Some set out to do that from the get-go, like withMarvel Rivals, while others are turning pre-established franchises into online titles, like withSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. After years of single-player-focusedAssassin’s Creedtitles, Ubisoft seems to be planning to do the latter.
Assassin’s Creedis no stranger to multiplayer; previous titles featured a multiplayer mode andAssassin’s Creed Unityattempted to take the franchise to the co-op space. However, the mysteriousAssassin’s Creed Invictusis set to take things to the next level. While it remains to be seen just what form the gameplay takes, the franchise itself arguably isn’t the perfect fit for a multiplayer live-service experience. In fact, Ubisoft’sFar Cryseries feels like a better pick, and hopefully, the studio has plans to deliver just that sometime down the line.
Far Cry is Ripe for Ubisoft’s Multiplayer Plans
The Core of Far Cry is Heavily Reminiscent of Many Live-Service Titles
At its core,theFar Cryseriesis all about being tossed into unfamiliar territory and wreaking havoc on its landscape in classic FPS style. Players often assume the role of an outsider, work alongside freedom fighters, and do everything they can to rid a massive open-world of its oppressors. They must master a wide assortment of weaponry while discovering everything that the land has to offer. And while that concept has primarily been explored in singleplayer, it could also be the perfect multiplayer experience.
Many live-service titles seem to be built around delivering some high-stakes FPS action across massive, unique-feeling maps. With a few tweaks,theFar Cryformulacould fit right into that. Players could enter these unfamiliar lands alongside their friends and fight together to rid them of whatever foe seeks to control. If Ubisoft would rather take a PvP approach, then players could take opposing sides in this conflict and fight to make their mark on the land, perhaps in a battle royale-like experience or an extraction shooter.
The World of Far Cry Could Lend Itself Very Well to the Multiplayer Space
Not only doesthe core gameplay loop ofFar Cryfeel perfect for a live-service game, but so does the world and story itself. With each entry, Ubisoft has brought players to all sorts of unique and exciting locales. Some titles are based around the real world, while others have taken fans to a more supernatural or science fiction location. In classic Ubisoft fashion, each world has then been filled to the brim with things to discover and destroy.
That open-world formula could work wonders in a live-service experience. Already, the studio sort of delivered a massive open-world co-op title withTom Clancy’s Ghost Recon WildlandsandBreakpoint. Although the gameplay would be a bit different, the open-worlds themselves could be very similar. If it works for those games, there is no telling what the studio could do withFar Cry'’s massive landscapes.
Of course, taking a singleplayer franchise into the multiplayer space can be incredibly risky, as seen with the likes ofSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Still, Ubisoft may have the skills and knowledge necessary to balance the feeling of a classicFar Crytitle with multiplayer elements. With updates, the studio could expand it even further with new weapons, stories, locales, and all sorts of exciting content. While it seems like Ubisoft only has plans forAssassin’s Creedat this time, it would be a major missed opportunity ifFar Crydid not follow.
