The Shifting Landscape of Chaos: Ubisoft Confirms Major Multiplayer Push for Future Far Cry Titles

In a strategic announcement that signals a significant pivot for one of its flagship franchises, Ubisoft has officially confirmed that future iterations of the Far Cry series will “more predominantly push multiplayer.” This statement, delivered by Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot at the recent New Global Sport Conference in Saudi Arabia, underscores the company’s commitment to evolving its AAA titles toward experiences designed for extended player engagement and, potentially, the highly lucrative live-service model.

Guillemot explicitly stated that the goal is to integrate multiplayer aspects more prominently, allowing the games to be “played for a long time by players.” This move has ignited considerable discussion within the gaming community, as it suggests a departure from the series’ traditional foundation of sprawling, chaotic, and narrative-driven single-player open-world adventures. The implications are far-reaching, hinting at new gameplay loops, monetization strategies, and a potential reinvention of the classic Far Cry formula.

The Dual-Project Strategy: Far Cry 7 and an Extraction Shooter

The CEO’s comments appear to corroborate earlier, high-profile reports regarding the next stage of the Far Cry series. Leaks have indicated that Ubisoft is not merely planning a single sequel, but is instead working on a dual-project strategy:

• Far Cry 7 (Codename: Blackbird): This is expected to be the next mainline, numbered installment, which will likely retain a core single-player campaign but with a deeper, more integrated multiplayer component. Unconfirmed reports suggest the game is moving to the Snowdrop Engine (used for The Division and Star Wars Outlaws), a departure from the long-standing Dunia Engine, which could facilitate more sophisticated multiplayer and live-service features.
• Standalone Multiplayer Title (Codename: Maverick): This project is rumored to be a Far Cry extraction-based shooter set in the Alaskan wilderness. Extraction shooters, a high-CPC genre, are inherently designed for long-term player investment and are a clear vehicle for the games-as-a-service (GaaS) model. Maverick would provide a distinct, dedicated multiplayer experience, capitalizing on the franchise’s name without completely overhauling the mainline game’s core identity.

The separation of the experiences—a main story-focused game and a dedicated multiplayer spin-off—was, for a time, a common approach in the industry, yet Guillemot’s latest comments suggest the ambition for multiplayer integration goes beyond a simple side-project and will actively influence the mainline Far Cry 7 experience itself.

Monetization and Player Backlash: The Live-Service Dilemma

The phrase “played for a long time” is an industry euphemism that, for many fans, immediately translates to “live-service game” and an increase in microtransactions (MTX), battle passes, and seasonal content. This suspicion is amplified by Ubisoft’s previous attempts to integrate GaaS elements into other major franchises, sometimes with mixed critical and commercial results (such as Ghost Recon Breakpoint).

The initial fan reaction on forums and social media has been one of deep concern. Many worry that pushing multiplayer will dilute the elements they cherish most in Far Cry: the charismatic, memorable villains, the unscripted open-world chaos, and the feeling of a focused, single-player journey through a beautiful, yet dangerous, environment. Critics of the move often cite the risk of a “shriveled raisin of a single-player campaign,” an over-reliance on cosmetic DLC bundles, and an overwhelming “microtransaction-ridden hellscape” designed to spur the lucrative FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) effect rather than foster genuine player excitement.

Ultimately, the success of this shift will hinge on how Ubisoft manages to balance the single-player narrative—the series’ historical strength—with the demands of an extended multiplayer ecosystem. The challenge is to introduce compelling, long-lasting multiplayer features, such as expanded co-op missions, community-driven events, or new PvP modes, without sacrificing the immersive, high-value storytelling that draws players in initially. For the new vision to succeed, it must feel like an organic evolution of the chaotic, fun sandbox, not a mandatory bolt-on for increased recurring player spending.

The transition is also linked to the growing influence of Tencent, which has increased its stake in Ubisoft through a joint venture, gaining partial influence over key franchises. Tencent’s extensive experience in the highly profitable mobile and live-service market is a likely catalyst for this strategic shift toward high-CPC, long-term engagement models in Ubisoft’s most valuable IPs.

As the development of both Far Cry 7 (Blackbird) and the standalone shooter (Maverick) progresses toward their rumored 2026/2027 window, the gaming world will be watching closely to see if Ubisoft can successfully navigate the fine line between innovation and alienation, maintaining the core spirit of Far Cry while chasing the high-reward economics of the modern multiplayer market.