Light Start: Ubisoft Edition featuring a new battle royale, Watch Dogs Legion, Assassins Creed goes Norse and a not-so Far Cry

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We finally know when Watch Dogs: Legion will release

Last night we saw Ubisoft’s 2020 keynote that was likely actually planned for E3. Thanks to a global pandemic, E3 was cancelled, and to pull more people into the livestream, Ubisoft tried to make it worth everyone’s time by giving away free games, kinda. But that’s a story for another post. Ubisoft Forward did show off some beautiful games and finally confirmed a few release dates. 

That’s true for the upcoming Watch Dogs: Legion title, which we knew was coming, but never had a concrete release date for. We now know that the game will release on 29 October 2020 on  Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Google Stadia and also on Windows PC through the Epic Games launcher as well as Uplay. The game will also be available on UPLAY+, Ubisoft’s subscription service. We can also expect to see the upcoming title on the next-gen range of consoles in the forms of the PS5 and the Xbox Series X, which is a neat addition. What makes this one so unique, is the option to “Play as Anyone,” which allows players to, quite literally, play as any one of the rosters of resistance members. According to Ubisoft, each person in this open-world is playable as a character, and not an NPC. 

“Every single person in the open world can be recruited and played, is unique and has a backstory, personality and skillset,” Ubisoft details in a press release. Also, if you buy the game before the next-gen consoles hit shelves, and you decide to get a PS5 or Xbox Series X, you’ll be able to get a copy of the game for that console at no extra cost, which is a nice touch. 

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We also know when Assassins Creed: Valhalla will come outAfter the unfortunate leaks of Assassins Creed: Valhalla gameplay last week, many people have been discouraged about the upcoming Ubisoft title. But following Ubisoft Forward, we now know exactly when the game is slated to land on our machines, and that’s 17 November 2020. 

Ubisoft’s got a big second half of 2020 ahead of them in terms of game releases, and we’re really hoping we’ll see the best this company can deliver. The new Assassins Creed title will also launch on all platforms, including Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Stadia, the Epic Games launcher, the Ubisoft Store on Windows PC, and Uplay. We’ll also see it on the next-gen consoles, and the same porting options apply as the Watch Dogs title. What we did get last night, is more gameplay (with context this time) that shows more of the game’s mechanics and combat systems. Apparently you can now dual-wield two shields, and we’re here for it. Whatever that may be. 

“Brand new gameplay shown at the digital conference illustrates new features that players can enjoy, including dual-wielding, raiding, assaults, and open-world activities” the Ubisoft press release reads. We’re definitely more excited about this title now that we’ve seen more. We’re just hoping for a more polished product come November. 

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A new Far Cry that feels closer to home than ever

This one is likely the most exciting announcement from last night, and it looks like Ubisoft has a better grasp on the Far Cry franchise following the disappointment that was Far Cry 5. 

In the reveal trailer of Far Cry 6, which was purely cinematic by the way, it looks like this time we’ll see more of what we see everyday: people protesting for freedom. This title will only launch in 2021, and it’s probably for the better, as we don’t need more negativity in 2020 honestly. The game will launch on 18 February 2021 on Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Stadia, and on both the Epic Games launcher and Uplay. The game will also be available on UPLAY+ — the Ubisoft subscription service. A not-so-surprising reveal of the renowned Breaking Bad actor Giancarlo Esposito and an opening sequence directed by Emmy Award winner Patrick Clair (Westworld, True Detective), Far Cry 6 is bound to be a narrative feast for the soul. This time around, Far Cry is set in a fictional nation of Yara, which is a tropical paradise frozen in time — kinda like a modern-day Cuba. Esposito portrays a dictator ‘el Presidente’ Anton Castillo who vows to restore the country to its former glory. All throughout protests and death, the President is grooming his son, Diego (Anthony Gonzalez) to follow in his footsteps. 

“Powerful and complex antagonists are part of Far Cry’s DNA, so right from the beginning we knew we had to raise the bar for who these characters could be and how they would come to life,” says Navid Khavari, Narrative Director, Ubisoft Toronto. 

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Of course, the world needs more battle royale games: Enter Hyper Scape

We’re just being sarcastic, and the world definitely needs more battle royale games, because people tend to enjoy most of them. Ubisoft finally launched the open beta of Hyper Scape into the world, and you’re probs already downloading it. 

If you aren’t, just do it. The Open Beta is available for all PC users (soz consolers) worldwide. It’s the first free-to-play battle royale game from the developer, and we’re excited to see this fast-paced urban title take off. According to Ubisoft, Hyper Scape takes place in the distant future of 2054, with a map called Neo-Arcadia that hosts up to 100 players per game. This title apparently features a host of different game modes, with a new level of interactive capabilities, especially with streamers. Where viewers on Twitch can choose game modes for the person playing in real-time. For this closed beta release, Ubisoft is introducing Crown Rush Solo, which is the 100-player free-for-all version of its main Battle Royale mode, on top of the previously available 3-player squad mode Crown Rush Squad, 

“The Open Beta will also feature two new limited-time modes: Hack Runner Squad and Turbo Mode Squad. Additionally, the Open Beta includes one new hack and weapon, Shockwave and Harpy respectively” Ubisoft details in a press release. 

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