What's New in Far Cry 6?

Far Cry 6 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated titles of the year, and with Ubisoft’s gameplay showcase on the 28th May we now have a much clearer picture of where the series is headed.

Here’s an overview of everything Ubisoft showed off, from the most diverse array of tools and firearms the series has seen, the next dangerous location we’ll be travelling to, the latest crazy villain, and expanded customisation.

Setting and Story

Far Cry 6 takes the series back to a tropical climate with Yara, a fictional island set deep in the Caribbean. While the game is set in the present-day, the island appears to be stuck in the 1960s following its decline, meaning you can expect vintage cars, weapons, and architecture among other things. Yara is marked by Far Cry’s traditional natural landscapes such as lush jungles, looming mountains, and stunning waterfalls, but now also decaying cities, offering a beautiful and interesting new locale to explore. The capital city of Esperanza is unlike anything the series has seen so far, with tall skyscrapers and bustling streets.

The story is centered around liberating Yara. Having been isolated for over 50 years following a violent revolution, Yara is now on the verge of collapse under the oppressive grip of Anton Castillo, Yara’s Presidente. We were introduced to this character last year with the reveal of the game, coinciding with the reveal that Anton Castillo would be portrayed by the legendary Giancarlo Esposito. Castillo wants to return Yara to its former glory, yet his methods are bloody and oppressive.

But Castillo’s actions will not go unrivalled. You play as Dani Rojas, a native of Yara and a military drop-out, who gets involved in the resistance movement rising in Yara. The resistance group, Libertad, is a rag-tag group of freedom fighters that make use of guerrilla tactics to free Yara from Anton’s corrupt grip. Along your journey, you will encounter several important members of this group as you fight to free your home.

The event also revealed that you will be able to choose either a male or female protagonist at the start of the game and customise them, similar to Far Cry 5. It will be more important this time around though as Far Cry 6 will be returning to a fully voiced protagonist that will star in the cutscenes. This will undoubtedly be a huge relief to fans of Far Cry prior to 5, giving room for more personality and characterisation of the protagonist.

Guerrilla Warfare

An important takeaway from the reveal was the focus on guerrilla warfare. As part of the resistance, you’ll have to improvise weaponry and use guerrilla tactics to match Anton Castillo’s brute force. For instance, you can now stow your weapons to drive through checkpoints without suspicion, you can bribe enemies, and you can use sabotage to your advantage to turn the tide of battles.

Taking this idea further, the developers have also created systems for a guerrilla network, such as ‘Guerrilla Paths’ and ‘Guerrilla Hubs’. Guerrilla Paths let you bypass dangerous situations and move around the game world using paths left behind from the fictional revolution in 1967. These Paths can lead to new items and rewards. Guerrilla Hubs, on the other hand, are friendly camps where Dani can restock and set out on missions with a diverse cast of characters, including Clara Garcia, a revolutionary leader, and Juan Cortez who acts as a mentor and spymaster for the resistance.

This turn to guerrilla warfare has also permeated your arsenal. In addition to the series’ staple of military-grade weaponry, a new class of weapons called ‘Resolver’ weapons are joining in on the action. Resolver weapons are clearly improvised, fashioned out of everyday items and scrap, to spice up firefights in Far Cry 6. The gameplay trailer showed off a mini-gun made from a motorcycle engine and a disk launcher made from an old CD player that blares Los del Rio’s ‘Macarena’. It seems as though they’ll be plenty more creative and wild weapons to keep an eye out for in the future.

A new addition the developers were keen to showcase is the ‘Supremo Backpacks’. These were developed with the idea of turning one guerrilla soldier into feeling like one hundred. As such, each backpack will offer a unique ‘Supremo’ ability that can turn the tide of battle. For instance, the trailer showcased the ‘Exterminador Supremo’ that can launch a rocket salvo straight from your backpack or another one that can give Dani a slight boost into the air, like a weak jetpack.

Gorilla Warfare?

Far Cry 6 carries over the ‘Fangs for Hire’ system of Far Cry 5, renamed ‘Amigos’, allowing Dani to choose an animal companion. The ‘Fangs for Hire’ system was one of the most interesting and entertaining mechanics of Far Cry 5 so it will be interesting to see how Ubisoft has developed the system further. So far we’ve met Chorizo, an adorable little sausage dog with killer talents (literally), and Guapo, a crocodile in a t-shirt with teeth as sharp as his style. Who knows what other wild ideas the developers have come up with for ‘Amigos’ but I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of them in future reveals.

Customisation

Customisation was another element that was stressed in the gameplay reveal. According to the developers, customisation will play a greater role in Far Cry 6 than in prior entries, and this is even in the expanded options for personalisation. Players will be able to customise their weapons, clothing, and even vehicles.

Prior Far Cry titles typically only let the player change the sights and muzzle accessories on their firearms, but Far Cry 6 will have expanded options. You’ll be able to turn a simple pistol into a machine pistol outfitted with a drum magazine, for instance. This expanded weapon customisation sounds promising for adding variety and personalisation to combat.

Clothing will also play a greater role. Whilst Far Cry 5 let players change their attire it was almost unnoticeable apart from friends seeing while playing in Co-Op. Far Cry 6 on the other hand, along with having cutscenes and a few third-person animations that will show off your look, clothing will come attached with bonuses. So far it looks like these bonuses will be simple stat boosts such as improved stealth or weapon handling, but it should allow players to specialise in their favourite playstyles.

The most exciting part to me, however, was the news of extensive vehicle customisation. I’m a sucker for this in general and vehicles have always been chaotic fun in Far Cry so I’m interested in learning more about this system. The trailer showed off muscle cars with guns mounted to the roof and a vintage sedan with a plough bolted to the front. Knowing Far Cry, it’s safe to say that there are bound to be some insane and creative options.

Closing Out

Far Cry 6 is planned to release on the of 7th October 2021 on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation5, Stadia, and PC via Epic Games and Ubisoft Connect. If the game doesn’t get delayed, we’ll be able to get our hands on the game in only a few short months to experience the new story and changes to the Far Cry formula. Hopefully, Far Cry 6 will successfully execute its lofty ambitions but only time will tell.

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