If Ubisoft has spent recent years injecting a new lease of life into dormant franchises (see: Rainbow Six Siege and this year’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands), then the next ten months will see the mega-publisher narrow its focus to four marquee AAA titles: the as-yet-untitled Assassin’s Creed 2017, Far Cry 5, The Crew 2 and South Park: The Fractured But Whole.
The latter sequel just locked in a mid-October release date earlier today, and though Ubi is keeping any further details under lock and key in anticipation of E3 2017 next month, Ubisoft boss Yves Guillemot has confirmed via press release that all four games – South Park included – will launch within the publisher’s 2017-2018 fiscal year. In short: expect them to be with us sometime before March 31st, 2018.
Over the last three fiscal years, Ubisoft has — with remarkable success — created numerous new brands and rebooted Rainbow Six and Ghost Recon… In 2017-18 we will see the exciting returns of Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, The Crew and South Park. In 2018-19 we intend to pursue our digital transformation and consolidate our new business model, which is much more recurring and more profitable and is now significantly less exposed to new releases.
Following its one-year hiatus, Assassin’s Creed 2017 is arguably the one title that has generated the most excitement so far. Leaked screenshots point to the possibility of an ancient Egyptian setting, replete with naval combat and dual protagonists – not unlike Syndicate, then. Assassin’s Creed: Origin is the current codename, though it’s impossible to know for sure whether that’ll become the final title.
Far Cry 5, on the other hand, looks set to give Red Dead Redemption 2 a run for its dollar bills by adopting a Western setting, and thanks to leaked documents concerning a film shoot – likely for a live-action trailer – it’s believed that Ubisoft’s open-world sequel will take place in Montana. As for The Crew 2, it’ll no doubt build on the foundations laid by its MMO-esque predecessor, hopefully with a tighter focus and a smooth online infrastructure.
Here’s confirmation of those imminent reveals via Twitter, along with their respective logos:
Make history. Subscribe to the Ubisoft US YouTube channel and stay tuned for this year's E3. #AssassinsCreed https://t.co/q2czPk63kM
— Assassin's Creed (@assassinscreed) May 16, 2017
Are you ready for a hefty dose of new Far Cry adventures?
Subscribe on YouTube to be the first to get more updates: https://t.co/Q3wlJxjoMZ pic.twitter.com/7PwFsCFY9b— Far Cry (@FarCrygame) May 16, 2017
Beyond the road… Stay with us for more high octane thrills! https://t.co/4OWAfNVhGM pic.twitter.com/Kd0v398Zfh
— The Crew Motorfest (@TheCrewGame) May 16, 2017
Expect more details to be unveiled when Ubisoft takes to the stage at E3 2017 next month. When, exactly? According to that aforementioned press release, Ubi’s presser will kick off at the Orpheum Theatre on June 12th at 1pm PT. Stay tuned for more.
