Highlights
Far Cry 6 has highlighted the need for a new direction in the Far Cry series, as the franchise has been trying to replicate the success of Far Cry 3 instead of innovating.
Far Cry 7 presents an opportunity for the studio to demonstrate its commitment to innovation by incorporating fresh mechanics, ideas, and style into the series. However, the game's success is uncertain due to recent events, including the departure of the executive director and a possible controversial move towards a live-service model.
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Far Cry, alongside the Assassin's Creed franchise, currently stands as one of Ubisoft's largest series. Throughout its six mainline titles and various spin-offs, players have embarked on thrilling sandbox adventures. While the gameplay has remained solid, the concept behind Far Cry seems to have grown somewhat stagnant. With the release of Far Cry 6, fans of the franchise are eagerly anticipating something fresh and innovative.
Although no official announcement has been made, all attention is focused on the rumored Far Cry 7, waiting to see if it can meet expectations. However, uncertainties arise due to the departure of creative director Dan Hay and speculations surrounding a live-service approach. As Far Cry 6 has exposed many flaws within the franchise, Far Cry 7 now presents the studio with an opportunity to rectify the situation. Nonetheless, achieving this may prove to be a challenging task.
The Far Cry Series Needs New Life
After the initial experimentation in the first two Far Cry games, Far Cry 3 established a new benchmark for the popular sandbox franchise. Gamers were captivated by its compelling narrative, expansive open world, and innovative gameplay mechanics. Consequently, it garnered widespread critical acclaim and earned numerous prestigious awards. Even today, it is hailed as one of the greatest games ever created, and its success significantly influenced the trajectory of the franchise, for better or worse.
Since the release of Far Cry 3, Ubisoft has been striving to replicate that same level of triumph. Far Cry 4, while enjoyable, lacked originality and felt too similar to its predecessor. Far Cry 5 exhibited noticeable flaws in the franchise's storytelling, and Far Cry 6 made minimal advancements to the established formula. Similarly, Far Cry Primal and Far Cry New Dawn attempted to introduce fresh settings, but ultimately failed to truly revolutionize the franchise.
The Far Cry series seems to have been stuck in a cycle of repetitive gameplay, with each new installment feeling like a mere reskin of Far Cry 3. This lack of innovation has disappointed some fans, despite the games' overall success. However, it is time for a change. Far Cry 7 presents a unique opportunity for the studio to take risks and revitalize the franchise. It must be the Assassin's Creed Origins equivalent for the Far Cry series, introducing fresh mechanics, innovative ideas, and an entirely new aesthetic. By doing so, the game has the potential to breathe new life into the sandbox genre and regain critical acclaim.
The future of Far Cry 7 is uncertain due to recent developments. The departure of the executive director of the series after the release of Far Cry 6 raises the possibility of a new direction, but also the risk of losing the essence of the series. Additionally, Ubisoft's focus on live-service games could result in a controversial transformation for Far Cry 7.
The seventh installment of the franchise has a lot to prove after the mixed reviews of its predecessor. If it fails to impress audiences, the franchise may face difficulties. On the other hand, if it successfully reinvents itself, it could offer an exceptional experience. However, if this reinvention incorporates the live-service genre or deviates from the familiar Far Cry feel, it may struggle to gain traction. Far Cry 7 finds itself facing formidable challenges, but hopefully, it will overcome them.
Far Cry 7 is rumored to be in development.