Ubisoft Pivots Far Cry Franchise Toward Two New Open-World Projects
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
According to a new report from Insider Gaming via Polygon, Ubisoft has canceled its unannounced Far Cry extraction shooter, Maverick, and shifted development into an open-world FPS codenamed Kodiak, which will be developed alongside a mainline entry codenamed Blackbird.
Ubisoft is reportedly shifting gears on its major shooter franchise. According to a recent report by Insider Gaming, the publisher has canceled an unannounced extraction shooter codenamed Maverick, choosing instead to repurpose its development efforts into a brand new open-world first person shooter codenamed Kodiak. Vantage Studios is handling the project, which recently cleared its conception phase and entered full development.
This project is not the only entry on the horizon for the twenty two year old franchise. Alongside Kodiak, a separate game codenamed Blackbird is currently in the works at Ubisoft and is expected to serve as the next mainline installment in the series. For players who enjoy massive sandbox environments and chaotic single player or cooperative campaigns, the pivot back to traditional open-world design makes a lot of sense after years of experimenting with alternative genres and live service formats.
Extraction shooters have dominated a specific corner of the competitive multiplayer space for a while now, but Ubisoft's decision to scrap Maverick shows a willingness to reevaluate projects that do not quite fit the core identity of its biggest brands. As the publisher navigates a shifting industry landscape, focusing on what the community actually expects from a Far Cry game could be the right move. We will have to wait for official confirmation and gameplay reveals to see how Kodiak and Blackbird shape up, but original reporting from Polygon and Insider Gaming points to a busy future for the franchise.
Tags: Ubisoft, Far Cry, Gaming News, Open World, FPS
Original article: Polygon