Ubisoft's Digital Sorcery: Far Cry Classics Conjure 60 FPS on New Consoles – But What's the Catch, Eh?
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Ubisoft cleverly teased and confirmed 60 FPS updates for *Far Cry 3*, *Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon*, and *Far Cry Primal* on current-gen consoles, sparking excitement but also Jeff's gentle skepticism about potential costs or conditions for these beloved classics, as initially reported by Game Rant.
Right, so Ubisoft, bless their cotton socks, decided to play a round of digital charades on social media, teasing some rather juicy news about a few classic Far Cry titles. And fair dinkum, the community cracked it faster than a wizard opening a mimic chest. Turns out, as first highlighted by James Ratcliff over at Game Rant, we're looking at a glorious 60 frames per second (FPS) upgrade for a trio of beloved entries: *Far Cry 3*, *Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon*, and *Far Cry Primal* on current-gen consoles. You know that feeling when you cast a spell and it works a bit too well? This *could* be one of those moments, but my inner sceptic is already doing backflips.
Ubisoft’s initial announcement was a masterclass in 'why complicate things when you can use emojis and make fans do your marketing?' They posted some cryptic visual equations on X (formerly Twitter) – a picture of a number '3' plus a dragon, and then another '3' plus a caveman, or something similarly baffling. Naturally, the gaming hive mind deciphered it in about five minutes flat, proving once again that gamers are better at riddles than most ancient prophets. Ubisoft, in their infinite wisdom, then confirmed the fan theories, awarding metaphorical 'gold stars' and promising the upgrades for January 21st. A bit of a cheeky way to drop news, if you ask me, but it certainly got people talking.
Now, for those of us who appreciate the finer things in virtual life – like frame rates that don't feel like a slideshow from 2008 – this is genuinely exciting. *Far Cry 3*, for instance, is often considered the series' high-water mark for a reason. Vaas Montenegro? Jason Brody's descent into madness? That insane island sandbox? All prime candidates for a smoother, more responsive experience. *Blood Dragon*, on the other hand, is just pure, unadulterated 80s neon-soaked chaos – a game that *begs* to be played at buttery-smooth frame rates while you're riding a laser-eyed dinosaur. And *Primal*? Well, even if swinging a club at a woolly mammoth isn't your usual Friday night, doing it at 60 FPS just makes the whole prehistoric ordeal feel a bit more… primitive in a good way.
These titles have, of course, been playable on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S via backward compatibility, often with resolution boosts (like 1440p) and auto HDR. But a native 60 FPS patch is a different beast entirely. It means the game engine itself is being told to run at that higher frame rate, potentially offering more consistent performance and a better overall feel than what backward compatibility can sometimes manage. It's like the difference between playing an old vinyl record on a modern system versus having the original master tape remastered specifically for today's audiophiles. The latter just hits different, mate.
But here's where my gently skeptical wizard hat starts twitching. Ubisoft's track record with 'upgrades' for older titles isn't always as straightforward as a simple free patch. Remember the 'Classic Edition' releases for Far Cry 3? Or how some of these were tied to Season Passes or PS Plus Extra subscriptions? The official word, as of writing, hasn't clarified if these 60 FPS updates will be completely free for existing digital and physical owners, or if they'll require a separate purchase or even be exclusive to certain editions or subscription tiers. I mean, it'd be pretty rough if you had to buy a game you already own again just for the extra frames, wouldn't it? Let's hope Ubisoft isn't trying to pull a fast one there.
It also raises a bigger question about Ubisoft's strategy. The Far Cry franchise has been a bit quiet since 2021's *Far Cry 6* (which, let's be fair, had Giancarlo Esposito chewing scenery like a hungry croc, but still landed with a mixed reception). Are these updates a way to generate goodwill? To fill a gap in their release schedule? Or perhaps, and this is where my observational gears start whirring, are they testing the waters for more significant remasters or even remakes? We've already seen tantalizing whispers about a *Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake* (which has been in dev-hell longer than some actual hells) and an *Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag* remaster. Dusting off beloved older titles, giving them a performance bump, and gauging player interest is a clever, low-risk way to assess the commercial viability of deeper dives.
This trend of giving older games a spit-and-polish for current-gen consoles is certainly something I'm excited about. When done right, it extends the life of fantastic experiences and allows new players to jump in without feeling like they're playing a relic. But, as always, the devil's in the details. We'll be keeping a keen eye on Ubisoft's exact rollout plan for these *Far Cry* upgrades. If it's a genuine, free gift to players, then bravo! If there's a sneaky paywall or subscription requirement, then my skepticism will turn into full-blown wizardly grumbling. Here's hoping it's the former, because nothing beats revisiting an old favourite feeling fresh and vibrant, ready for another chaotic adventure.
Tags: Far Cry, Ubisoft, Gaming News, Console Upgrades, Retro Gaming
Original article: Game Rant