Summary
Besides theAssassin’s Creedfranchise,Far Cryis probably Ubisoft’s biggest series right now. Over the course of six mainline titles and multiple spin-offs, players have been whisked away on exciting sandbox adventures. While the gameplay has been solid throughout, the actual concept behindFar Cryfeels a bit stuck in its ways. And ifFar Cry 6is anything to go by, fans of the franchise are looking for something new from this series.
Even though nothing has been officially announced yet, all eyes are onthe rumoredFar Cry 7to see if it can deliver. However, the departure of creative director Dan Hay and rumors of a live-service approach have put that game’s success in doubt. AfterFar Cry 6showed many of the franchise’s cracks,Far Cry 7is the studio’s chance to right the ship, but that may be easier said than done.
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The Far Cry Series Needs New Life
Afterthe first twoFar Crygamestried to figure out the best approach,Far Cry 3set a new standard for the sandbox franchise. Players fell in love with the story, the vast open world, and many of the game’s mechanics. Because of this, it was met with critical acclaim and would go on to win numerous awards. To this day, it is still regarded as one of the best games ever made. And its success shaped the future of the franchise, for better or worse.
SinceFar Cry 3, Ubisoft seems to be trying to chase that same success.Far Cry 4was fun but also felt too much like its predecessor,Far Cry 5started showing some cracksin the storytelling of the franchise, andFar Cry 6did little to improve upon the concept in any way. At the same time,Far Cry PrimalandFar Cry New Dawntried something new with their settings, however, they too did little to actually reinvent the franchise.
It just feels like theFar Cryseries has been trying to replicateFar Cry 3since release rather than forge ahead with new ideas and concepts. This has led to a series of games that seem like the same thing with a new coat of paint, which has put some fans off of the series. While they still seem to be successful games, this trend cannot continue. It is time for the franchise to innovate, which iswhereFar Cry 7comes in.
Far Cry 7is the studio’s chance to show audiences that it is willing to take a risk with the series. Instead of just doingFar Cry 3once more, this game has to betheAssassin’s Creed Originsof theFar Cryseries. It needs to bring in new mechanics, new ideas, and even a whole new style. Doing so could breathe new life into this sandbox series, which could help it reach critical acclaim again.
That all sounds like a great idea, but recent developments may put the success ofFar Cry 7in doubt. For starters, theexecutive director behind theFar Cryseriesdeparted shortly after the release ofFar Cry 6. While this could pave the way for a new style, it could also mean that the series loses itself a bit along the way. On top of that, Ubisoft seems to be going all in on the live-service market, which could mean thatFar Cry 7takes on a whole new controversial form.
AfterFar Cry 6, the seventh game has a lot to prove to audiences. If it receives mixed reviews like its predecessor, then the franchise could be in a bit of a tough spot. Alternatively, if it reinvents itself then it could lead to another fantastic experience. But, if that reinvention includes the live-service genre or something that lacks thatFar Cryfeel, then it could be dead on arrival. That putsFar Cry 7against insurmountable odds, so hopefully it can push through.
