If there’s one game that first-person shooter fans are looking forward to this year, it’s surely Far Cry 6.
This is because the latest entry in the long-running video game series looks likely to offer the same mix of exciting action, great gameplay, interesting characters and story as the earlier games judging by the gameplay videos and trailers we have seen so far.
There’s also the added plus that the game’s villain will be played by TV star Giancarlo Esposito – and given that the series is known for its great villains, that’s certainly something to look forward to. The game will also dive into the touchy subject of revolutionary politics too, for good or ill…
Also, Far Cry 6, like the previous entries, will boast some pretty impressive graphics, even if the game won’t have ray tracing graphical effects on next-gen consoles as Ubisoft recently told TechRadar (via VG247).
“Ray Tracing is a PC-only feature. On console our objective has been to take advantage of new hardware capabilities, optimizing performance targeting 4K and achieving 60 FPS for instance, all while ensuring that the experience on the previous generation of console would remain consistent”, said Ubisoft in a statement.
So given its support for ray tracing, the PC version will almost certainly be the best-looking version of the lot. Plus, PC boasts other perks such as support for AMD’s FidelityFX technology and ultrawide screen support too as Ubisoft 3D lead programmer Stephanie Brenham told wccftech.com in an interview.
That doesn’t mean those gaming PS5 and Xbox Series X won’t get plenty of eye candy, though. Aside from the next-gen console versions running at 4K resolution and a buttery smooth 60 frames per second, this version will also include “better LODs, draw distances, better ocean simulation, and HD textures” as Ubisoft’s Stephanie Brenham told Wccftech in the aforementioned interview. Of course, PC will also have all of this (if your machine is capable enough that is).
However, it’s also a good thing that Ubisoft wants to deliver a consistent experience between console generations, and those gaming on the last-gen Xbox One and PS4 (and more modest PCs too) can still look forward to enjoying some of the new graphical features in Far Cry 6 such as a dynamic weather system.
But it’s clear that PS5 and Xbox Series X can deliver a more satisfying experience also due to the fact that these machines feature SSD hard drives, which according to Ubisoft enhances the experience of playing the game considerably.
“Loading in moments rather than minutes is obviously fantastic and it also gives us a different paradigm compared to older console’s HDDs”, said Ubisoft’s 3D Team Lead Programmer Stephanie Brenham in the Wccftech interview.
Also, this is a game that Far Cry fans will want to enjoy thoroughly (if hopefully it turns out to be really good) as Ubisoft will likely be changing the gameplay formula dramatically for the next entry in the series as an industry insider revealed earlier this year.
This means Far Cry 6 could be the last Far Cry to feature the classic open-world gameplay, and a map teeming with side activities to distract you from the main quest of putting down dictator Antón Castillo and his twisted son Diego on a Caribbean island inspired by Cuba.
There’s also the DLC to look forward to, which will let you play as the villains from previous Far Cry games, stepping into the shoes of Vaas from Far Cry 3 and Pagan Min from Far Cry 4, plus a remaster of the classy Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon game from 2013 too…
Here’s hoping, then, that Far Cry 6 delivers another first-person action experience to remember when it hits shelves next month.
Note: Far Cry 6 will be released on October 7, 2021. Available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, PS4, Xbox One, Google Stadia and Amazon Luna.