Here’s Everything Revealed During Ubisoft’s UbiForward Event

On July 12, game developer Ubisoft hosted their first Ubisoft Forward event. This new, all-virtual stream revealed several new games that Ubisoft will be releasing throughout 2020 and 2021, as well as updates to several existing Ubisoft titles. Fans got their first peek at both titles from beloved franchises and exciting new adventures.

If you missed the stream — or you just want to relive all the exciting moments one more time — here’s a recap of everything covered during the UbiForward event.

Before the event itself kicked off, there was a deep dive into free track racer Trackmania followed by a pre-show stream, briefly revealing several indie titles as well as announcements for existing games. Here’s a quick rundown of everything we saw during the pre-show:

    • Just Dance 2020 will be adding six new songs as well as a tournament mode with its Virtual Paradise update, releasing July 23
    • Developer Maschinen-Mensch is working on procedurally generated expedition simulator Curious Expedition 2
    • Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet, Ubisoft’s first-ever live-action TV show, can be watched via Apple TV+. It covers the development of a fictional MMORPG featuring both fantasy and comedy elements
    • Open world motorsports title The Crew 2 is adding a ton of new vehicles via the Summer in Hollywood update, as well as brand new events currently planned to debut in August
    • Bossa Studios will be presenting the quirky physics-based title Surgeon Simulator 2, a sequel to the popular 2013 original. It will launch in August
    • Online action game Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 highlighted a unique Easter egg in the form of rubber ducks and “ProDUCKtive” graffiti messages hidden throughout the game’s world. A new update added yet another Easter egg in the form of cuddly Tommy the Teddy Bear
    • Award-winning indie studio Thunder Lotus discussed Spirit Farer, a “cozy management game about dying,” due later in 2020. It will release for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC
    • Motorcycle-based platformer Trials Rising is launching a brand new endurance challenge called “The Gigatrack,” confirmed to be the longest track ever featured in a Trials title. It will be available for free beginning July 16
    • Fully customizable AI teammates are coming to online tactical shooter Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint. Fury, Fixit, and Vasily will be available to deploy and follow players’ orders starting July 15. The update will also add much quality of life changes and upgrades to in-game features. Also, a free-for-all event titled “Resistance” will take place from July 16 until July 29

Following the pre-show, it was time to start the UbiForward itself!

Watch Dogs legion

First up, we got an extended look at Watch Dogs: Legion, the latest entry in the hacking-centric action-adventure franchise. Watch Dogs fans rejoiced as we were treated not only to brand-new gameplay, introductions to characters including drone expert Amy, construction worker Arthur, and antagonistic military boss Nigel Cass, but also a stunning cinematic trailer directed by Alberto Mielgo, an animator who previously worked on Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

Set in London, the game allows the player to step into the role of an underground resistance movement. Yes, you read that right — not a single member of the rebellion, but the whole thing! First-look gameplay reveals that players will be able to recruit any of the London citizens scattered throughout the game’s vast open world, from hitmen and spies to street brawlers and innocuous-looking little old ladies. Every possible resistance member possesses their unique backstory and talents. Takedown both military powerhouse Albion and Mary Kelley’s sinister dark-web based crime ring with the power of the legion!

Watch Dogs: Legion will release October 29, 2020, for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Stadia, PC, and UPlay+. Additionally, players who own the game on earlier Xbox and PlayStation systems will be able to upgrade to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions for free once these next-generation consoles launch.

Free-to-play action-packed fighter Brawlhalla will be releasing for iOS and Android devices on August 6. Customizable controls will be available, and cross-play is enabled between mobile and existing platforms including PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Play as one of over 50 “Legends” or perhaps a guest character from such beloved franchises as Rayman, Tomb Raider, or Adventure Time — in the ultimate brawl! A free bear-themed skin will also be released to celebrate the game’s mobile launch.

We then got a quick look at two of Ubisoft’s mobile titles. Fantasy-themed RPG Might & Magic: Era of Chaos is available now for iOS and Android devices, while Tom Clancy’s Elite Squad is coming soon. This free-to-play title, which will also debut for both iOS and Android, will star a variety of playable heroes from other Tom Clancy titles.

Ubisoft Montreal showed off an exclusive video celebrating the fifth anniversary of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege and thanking the game’s dedicated fan community. Although the game struggled at first and was not expected to succeed, years later, Ubisoft’s partnership with author Clancy is still going strong!

HyperScape

Fans were treated to a brand new trailer for Hyper Scape, the futuristic battle royale which the developer has been teasing over the past several weeks. Residents of the crowded Mega-Cities escape their daily lives by diving into the Hyper Scape, a digital landscape that plays host to free-for-all battles called Crown Rush. However, the trailer hinted at a darker side to the technological paradise Neo-Arcadia — players becoming injured or disappearing while within the Hyper Scape itself.

Hyper Scape will feature a variety of futuristic weapons, items, and special abilities called “Hacks.” The game will also feature never-before-seen Twitch integration, allowing the viewers to vote and affect the battlefield. Learn more by signing up for the game’s free open beta, available now on PC. Xbox One and PlayStation 4 releases are also planned, but no official launch date has been announced.

Fans were eagerly awaiting more news regarding the upcoming title Assassin’s Creed: Valhallaand the UbiForward event certainly delivered! We got a sneak peek at the game’s development process, which included team members traveling to Norway and England to walk in the long-ago footsteps of the Viking warrior who inspired the title.

New gameplay showed protagonist Eivor using his/her longships to explore England’s rivers and seek out new locations to raid and conquer. Looted materials can then be used to develop the player’s very own settlement, which provides gameplay advantages, including settlers with a diverse array of talents. Eivor’s settlement is also home to the “Alliance Map,” which shows what areas of England are under the player’s control, which contain possible allies, and which are yet to be conquered.

Speaking of enemies, Valhalla is officially confirmed to feature the widest variety of enemy types ever seen in an Assassin’s Creed game. Eivor will be able to take on these foes using a wide range of new weapons and combat techniques, including throwing hand axes and striking with a harpoon. A flexible, highly customizable combat system allows players to dual-wield any two weapons to truly develop their very own fighting style!

Of course, this wouldn’t be an Assassin’s Creed title without the need for stealth — and Eivor will have to do plenty of sneaking around! As he/she explores England, he/she must sneak, loot, hunt, hide, forage,  seek out ruins and temples and, of course, assassinate critical targets! Additionally, Eivor’s forces must carry out large-scale assaults to claim castles and fortifications inspired by real-life historical locations.

Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla will release on November 17 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and Stadia. Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 releases are also planned following these consoles’ debut.

Far Cry 6 Leaks

Ubisoft co-founder and CEO Yves Guillemot closed out the stream with a few more announcements, including that another UbiForward event is in the works. To end the event with yet another exciting reveal, Guillemot provided fans with an exclusive first look at the highly anticipated Far Cry 6, the latest title in the popular first-person shooter series.

Actor Giancarlo Esposito, best known for his role as crime lord Gustavo Fring in the TV series Breaking Bad, will star as Anton Castillo, the game’s chilling villain. The reveal trailer focused on the character of Castillo, a charismatic yet cruel leader who rules over the fictional country of Yara. Players will take the part of Danny Rojas, a guerilla fighter who is part of a revolution fighting to end Castillo’s reign. Danny, who will be fully visible in cutscenes (a first for the Far Cry series), can be either male or female.

Far Cry 6 will release on February 21, 2021 for Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and PC.

Did you enjoy the first-ever UbiForward event? What upcoming Ubisoft games are you looking forward to the most? (Personally, for me, it’s definitely a tie between Valhalla and Watch Dogs Legion. I simply can’t decide which I want to play first!) Let us know your thoughts!

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