Ubisoft has become known for its grand, open-world action games. While Assassin’s Creed is its bread and butter, the Far Cry franchise isn’t far behind with its own track record of solid releases. It wasn’t until 2012’s Far Cry 3 that the series elevated itself into the spotlight, and each consecutive game has brought players to new exotic locations, pitting them against ruthless warlords and engaging with new cultures.
The latest entry in the Far Cry franchise, Far Cry 6, launched last October and was met with good reviews. The real star of the show was its location, this time the fictional island of Yara (clearly inspired by Cuba). Considering the continued success of the series, another Far Cry game will likely arrive in the future. Whether it be a mainline entry or a spin-off like Far Cry: Primal, there are a number of locations that can serve as inspiration.
The Arctic
Previous Far Cry games have dabbled with snowy areas and harsh, cold environments, but never has a title fully embraced it. When not facing off against ruthless warlords and crime syndicates, it would be interesting to see the chosen environment play a more active role in challenging the player. Using the freezing landscape of the Arctic as a setting in a Far Cry game would be a cool change of pace for the series.
The cold could add an entirely new layer to gameplay, encouraging players to upgrade gear and handle the frigid environment. Blizzards could also blanket the world, impairing visibility and making for some intense firefights against enemy militia groups, or stealthily invading bases. When not in conflict, seeing the Northern Lights could make for a beautiful, serene sight to behold.
Egypt
Ubisoft is no stranger to the stunning sights of Egypt, as 2017’s Assassin’s Creed: Origins was an ambitious venture and completely reinvigorated that franchise by turning it into an open-world RPG. That location proved to be such an engaging experience, it would be a waste to only explore its mysteries and locales once. Whether a Far Cry game was set in Ancient Egypt or went for a more contemporary version, would be a treat.
For added fun, the creative team could even hint at theories about an Ubisoft shared universe. This doesn’t necessarily need to impact the plot, but while looking around it would be a neat Easter egg to find a passing reference to Bayek and other familiar faces. Similar to the Arctic, the hot climate of Egypt could also directly affect the gameplay, with the harsh sun and violent sand storms being elements of note.
Far Cry 3 was stunning for its time, delivering a gorgeous open world with tropical foliage. Almost a decade later, Far Cry 6 upped the ante and showed what a similar setting would look like on more advanced hardware. As video game technology continues to evolve and become more impressive, it would be amazing to see what another Far Cry game in a forested area could do.
Outer Space
While this may seem like an outlandish choice, Far Cry is no stranger to bizarre creative decisions. Far Cry 5’s DLC included a low-gravity Mars setting, while Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon was a neon-soaked tribute to 80s action movies. Since the mainline games tend to stick to some form of reality, a full-on science-fiction setting for a future Far Cry title could be best served in a spin-off.
Based on past release, Ubisoft seems to put out a smaller spin-off game roughly one year after each mainline title. Far Cry 4 was followed by Primal, and Far Cry 5 was continued with New Dawn. If a similar tactic is done again, it would be entertaining to see Ubisoft pull something completely unexpected out there. Far Cry is all about creating mayhem and having outlandish fun, and what better way to experience that than with jetpacks, laser guns, and rocket ships. Far Cry fans will just have to wait and see.
