Summary
Ubisofthas consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible in the world of video games and hascontinued to push out groundbreaking titlesfor the past two decades. A lineage of classic titles and IPs likeAssassin’s Creedand theTom Clancyseries, the company has had no shortage of immense successes throughout its lifespan, and is still looking to break into new ground even today.
Over the years, through sequels and revivals, Ubisoft has tried its hand at making something entirely new or attempted to reimagine a classic genre or title in a completely new way. Some failures, some triumphs, but at the end of the day, the ambition and the will to try something no one else has done before deserve commendation in themselves, and the company has shown that it is not afraid to freshen things up and go for gold.
A unique video game on an even more unique console,ZombiUserved as an experiment into the world of survival horror, utilizing the technology of the Wii U to create an immersive and distinct experience unlike any other. The title introduced a heightened sense of vulnerability by forcing players to manage their inventory and scan the map across both the handheld screen and the main screen, often exposing them to danger along the way.
The permadeath mechanic was also a bold move that took away the training wheels and thrust players into an incredibly punishing and unforgiving world that could turn sour at any moment. It really tested the player and their ability to take care of their resources and punished mistakes in a way few games at the time would. While the success of the game was limited, it still serves as a testament to Ubisoft’s experimental spirit and ambition to redefine how players engage with specific genres.
While other games at the time were attempting to emulate the success ofGTA 5,Ubisoft took a different approach andintroduced players to an immersive environmentwhere hacking was the main mechanic.Watch Dogsis a particularly ambitious title in that the world was so densely populated with unique NPCs, each with their own traits and personalities, and a city that could be used and exploited in a variety of interesting and fun ways at any moment.
It traded simplistic gunplay for faster, tactical fights that utilized every aspect of the area around to unleash chaos with more than a few explosions. The multiplayer was also a departure from other titles, adding specific modes that leaned into the mechanics of the game, like tailing other players undetected and decrypting files in intense shootouts that rewarded precision and quick thinking. A step in the right direction for the developers and an indication of the potential for open worlds with more interactive environments to come.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extractionrepresented Ubisoft’s bold attempt to evolve the tactical realism of theRainbow Sixfranchise into a cooperative science-fiction setting that players hadn’t yet experienced. Departing from the grounded counterterrorism operations that defined earlier entries,Extractionintroduced players to containment missions against a mutating alien threat that incorporated far more horror and survival than PvP intensity. Core mechanics fromRainbow Six Siegewere reimagined for a PvE environment, emphasizing strategic team coordination, with some interesting additions like permanent operator injuries, escalating risk-reward systems, and procedural mission modifiers, highlighting Ubisoft’s ambition to infuse tactical shooters with roguelike elements and long-term progression challenges.
On a technical level, the game leveraged the sophisticated destruction systems and precise gunplay perfected inSiege, but expanded them with environmental hazards and evolving enemy types to keep the game feeling fresh and the difficulty constantly evolving. By blending methodical team tactics with unpredictable and horrifying enemies, Ubisoft aimed to bridge the gap between hardcore tactical simulation and broader cooperative survival experiences, delivering a distinct hybrid within the multiplayer shooter genre.
VR is very much a medium for video games, which is a mixed bag of successes and struggles that has yet to overtake the mainstream in a big way.Space Junkieslooked to subvert the expectations on the VR space, by introducing a competitive multiplayer shooter that sought to redefine the genre and demonstrate that skill-based multiplayer games in the world of VR, could potentially be the next big step in gaming.
From a technical standpoint,Space Junkiescertainly delivered on the fluid movement and fast-paced combat that it set out to create, at a time where the hardware was very much still evolving. It stood as a game that wanted to look forward to and have a vision for the future of multiplayer shooters, and while it didn’t break out to a wide audience, it was still a significant milestone in the pursuit of high-quality, skill-based multiplayer experiences in VR.
The Crewrepresented Ubisoft taking a leap into creating an immensely large anddiverse open-world that players had never seen before. A scaled-down version of the USA that incorporated role-playing and seamless transitions across the landscape, it was a truly groundbreaking game that took the idea of an online racing game and destroyed all the limits to build one of the best and most memorable games in Ubisoft’s catalog.
The online aspects of the game were particularly well-integrated and demonstrated that smaller scope environments were a thing of the past when it came to building a racing game that players actually wanted to play. A new benchmark for the genre, and despite being taken offline, the sequels capture all the same strengths and go above and beyond thanks to the ambition and scope of the original.
Taking the Tom Clancy name and placing it into a gigantic open-world,Wildlandsallowed players to explore a vast, cartel-controlled environment with all the freedom they could ever want. Combining the precision and tactical aspects of other games in the series, it combined it with a sandbox design that encouraged players to venture out andtake down the various threatsacross the world, however they chose.
The world itself is almost absurd in its detail, including a day-night cycle, dynamic weather, and AI-driven enemy behaviors that continued to provide an evolving experience that never felt the same. The sheer scale and depth of the landscape are an achievement on their own, and combined with rewarding and satisfying co-op gunplay,Wildlandsstands out as one of the best in theGhost Reconseries and a new standard for open-world shooters in modern-day settings.
Star Wars Outlawsmarked a significant evolution in Ubisoft’s approach to game design, departing from its traditional formula to deliver a more organic and immersive experience in a world that is so beloved and revered. Players engage in high-risk missions,interact with various factions, and make choices that influence Kay’s reputation and the game’s progression. Taking an IP likeStar Warsand attempting to create any title is no easy feat, andOutlawsattempted to set itself apart with a more dynamic and self-determined experience.
The game features a companion system with Nix, an alien creature assisting in combat and puzzle-solving, adding depth to the gameplay and mixing up the fights in interesting ways. Space combat is expertly integrated, allowing players to pilot the Trailblazer starship in dogfights and planetary navigation. Despite some backlash and resistance from the consumer base, the game’s innovative design and faithful representation of theStar Warsuniverse have been praised, establishing it as a noteworthy entry in the franchise.
One of the most ambitious games of all time and a game whose development cycle spans more than a decade,Skull and Bonesemerged as one of Ubisoft’s most daring titles that coined a new term, “AAAA Game.” Stepping back into the world of pirate-themed action, building on the naval combat mechanics first introduced inAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, the game thrusts players into a land of ruthless maritime warfare, where ship combat, exploration, and resource management form the core gameplay. With its emphasis on tactical ship battles, the game aimed to refine and expand upon the ship-centric gameplay thatBlack Flagpopularized, offering both PvP and PvE elements that allowed for expansive multiplayer interactions.
The game is graphically impressive, ensuring that all the important physics related to weather and the environment are visually striking and immersive. Though the game faced delays and criticism for a lack of clear direction, the gameplay and world really speak for themselves, and it demonstrates that Ubisoft is willing to take risks with large-scale projects, even if it means keeping it behind closed doors for a little bit longer.
