Everything announced at Ubisoft Forward 2024
All the news out of Ubisoft Forward 2024 including new details on Star Wars Outlaws and Assassin's Creed Shadows
With the show happening soon, let's recap what we do know about the games we're seeing today, shall we?
Okay, let's start with Xdefiant. Ubisoft has said it's one of the three games definitely featuring in the main Ubisoft Forward showcase today, so it'll be interesting to see what updates it has for this free-to-play shooter.
XDefiant hasn't been out long, debuting on May 21 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, and it's an arena-based FPS.
Our take on it is that XDefiant is a throwback to a golden generation of Call of Duty, a kind of glorious return to 2015 with XDefiant offering Black Ops 3's specialists in all but name.
I wonder whether the developer will talk about skill-based matchmaking or SBMM?
The game actually opens with SBMM but only up until you reach level 25, after which point the game completely opens up. Players are loving the SBMM-free life, and Ubisoft said it's all intentional.
It's there initially to let players learn the fundamentals against people of their own level, but then once you're a pro - or as close as you'll ever get - you can unleash yourself across the full gamut of players.
Interestingly, Ubisoft has already detailed the Year 1 XDefiant Roadmap, including four unique seasons and the factions, weapons, and other content they'll introduce.
However, it could well be that we actually get the details for Season 1 at Ubisoft Forward, letting players learn more about Faction Codename Ruby and the weapons, maps, and Battle Pass that'll drop.
Then we've got Star Wars Outlaws, the brand new Massive Entertainment title, and very first open-world Star Wars games.
The game was initially revealed this time last year with a lengthy trailer, developer commentary and other beautiful news nuggets.
We also got this 10-minute gameplay walkthrough, which outlined all sorts of the game's features, including its morality system, planet traversal, and more.
Interestingly, we did get another new Star Wars Outlaws trailer at Summer Game Fest on Friday, and through that we got confirmation that Lando is coming.
So we already know quite a bit about the game. Our own Heather Wald, thinks that Star Wars Outlaws being sandwiched between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi is a stronger pull than the Force, for example. While elsewhere we've had the lead dev explain how relationships with criminal factions "lends itself very well for an open-world game"
I'd quite like to hear more about the morality system, especially as a sucker for that kind of gameplay, but also after Massive said that the Reputation system will change "the gameplay around the story" rather than "the story itself".
Assassin's Creed Shadows is the other sure fire bet for this event, with the game only officially revealed in April.
We already know that it's featuring a duo of protagonists - Yasuke and Naoe, the Samurai and shinobi partnership.
Set in Feudal-Japan, you'll be able to play as both of them, each with their own set of abilities and play styles. It's not quite as clear cut as Naoe's stealthy, and Yasuke's more about the action, but that's certainly a part of it.
Here's the world premiere trailer if you want to catch up.
Personally, I'm just hoping for a new Rayman game...
Let's head over to the Ubisoft YouTube channel to catch the pre-show. Plus if you watch on Twitch you can grab some Ubi goodies.
First up we've got Skull and Bones' water guy on creating the oceans and seas in the game.
A musical interlude you say?
Little trailer here for an indie game 'Supported by Ubisoft', This Bed We Made.
GamesRadar's Jasmine played it and loved it, saying "this sapphic murder mystery game had me uncovering scandal after scandal as a snooping hotel maid in 1950s Montreal".
Cheeky little segment for Just Dance VR: Welcome to Dancity, coming October 15.
Coming to all platforms September 24, it's Monopoly! Literally just called Monopoly.
King of the Hat is out now, and another indie game supported by Ubisoft.
That was essentially just a long explanation of what you do in Rainbow Six: Siege...
Anyone else get massively excited that this was Hollow Knight?
10 minutes to go until the main Ubisoft Forward show.
You can play BattleCore Arena for free now in Early Access on PC.
I wonder if we'll get to see anything of Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake or Splinter Cell today?
Assassin's Creed Mirage coming to iOS today - play the beginning now for free.
Hey, where's Assassin's Creed Jade?
okay here we go!
Hollywood Chamber Orchestra here to kick us off with some bops
Star Wars Outlaws is up first, and here's a look at Kay at an arcade.
She's at a bar, looking for someone - a gun slinger - who can treat her some new tricks.
Nice walk through your ship here too.
Each planet has its own system to explore, and ways to earn credits.
You can choose to engage in combat or ignore it - especially when it's some randomer who needs help. Can impact your reputation with syndicates - for better or worse.
At one point they approach a Hutt territory planet, and just literally fly straight down to the planet's surface. Way more No Man's Sky than Starfield.
Fly straight to Mos Eisley.
Exploring Tatooine on a speeder biker following some intel that leads us to a warehouse. Scopes out the place using some binoculars.
Nixx can attack on your behalf and also sense nearby enemies with a little pulse when asked. He protecc he attac.
Someone comes through the door while lockpicking and everything goes into full combat.
Can call the speeder to you?
That was a nice little slice of mission walkthrough there.
Loved the Western influences in some of the standoffs too - very Mandalorian.
Julian Gerighty from Massive here now chatting about the game.
Looks like this is another new trailer, again featuring Lando. More of an overview trailer.
NIX CAN PLAY DEAD
'It's up to you where your loyalties lie'
Here's that mission walkthrough to watch again later
Aaaaand here's this overview trailer too
XDefiant's new faction - GSK - unveiled.
three new weapons, one new map per month (Clubhouse, Daytona, Rockefella).
New Mode - Capture the Flag.
New Ranked progressions.
"AND MORE"
Coming July 2, full reveal for GSK faction coming july 1.
Skull and Bones Season 2 being outlined now. New story arch, new ship called The Brig, new sea monster the Megalodon - Lestari, new summer fiesta and dragon's regatta seasonal events.
Added community requested features like fleet management.
New solo and PvE game modes added.
New ship upgrades, offering further playstyle diversity.
Season 3 is called Into the Dragon's Wake. New sea lord and activities, stories and rewards. New legendary sea monster, the flying dragon. New 5v5 PvP mode with that too.
Skull and Bones Season 2 out now.
Brand Director for Prince of Persia here now with 'three surprises'
First update available for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. New amulets, outfits, divine trials, bosses revisited.
Plus glimpse at story DLC.
Mask of Darkness story DLC coming September 2024.
The Rogue Prince of Persia - first update is about to release.
New Biome called Temple of Fire. Available now.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time in 2026.
OOFT what a tease.
How long has that Sands of Time remake been in development now, eh?
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Story Pack 1: The Skybreaker coming July 16.
The Crew Motorfest final update of the first year coming in July.
Year 2 Motorfest - more seasons, new content, and more.
Brand new Hawaiian island being added for free. Made in Japan Vol 2 also coming.
The Chase Squad coming November 2024 to The Crew Motorfest.
Anno: 117 Pax Romana coming 2025.
Fan-favorite setting that's been highly awaited. Coming to both PC and console.
You can choose your starting province for the first time in the Anno series.
Dedicated Live Stream for Anno on June 18.
Here's the reveal trailer for that, which is just an old Roman man talking to some sheep.
Taiko Project now beating some drums for Assassin's Creed Shadows.
Charles Benoit - the Assassin's Creed game "we've wanted to make for a very long time"
Little recap on the two characters now.
In the winter ice may prevent you from going underwater. Heavy rain helps you blend or get away from enemies. At night, extinguish lights or braziers to escape.
You can pet the Shibas. confirmed.
Looking at the game from Yasuke's point of view.
Assasinate Fujioka is the mission. He's harrassing the people of the Dyeing District in the town of Fukuchiyama.
Using clues to find the target.
Combat with Yasuke is slow and deliberate, big heavy weapons. Very Assassin's Creed Valhalla.
Switches to a katana. Much more slick and speedy than the big spiked bat he had before.
Special abilites on the R2 as we've come to expect from the RPG Assassin's.
And now here comes Naoe.
Choice whether to play as Naoe or Yasuke.
Playing as Naoe now - "I won't be alone in there. It'll be me and the shadows".
Love the swing of a rope into a blade takedown.
She can move prone, which is pretty new for the Assassin's Creed series. Threw something for a distraction, and then used a chain to whip around the neck of an enemy.
Very classic Assassin roof takedowns.
Can kill people through screen doors, and also flip to the ceiling to get out of sight.
Lord Hayashi is the target here.
Throwing knife takes out an enemy.
Moves into the water to swim up to a target. It's raining, does that help muffle the sound? Breathing pipe like a reed to stay under water.
She gets spotted, and then uses a ball on a chain to deal damage to multiple enemies at once.
Can scale walls.
Assassin's Creed Shadows deep dive coming in the post show so stay tuned.
We're into the post show now, and starting with Assassin's Creed Shadows.
Wildlife more a key part of the game, and will move through the seasons like the game. Expect puppies in the spring!
- Yasuke's spiked bat is good for removing armor. Yellow bar on the enemy is the armor.
- Attacking and defending charge up your ability meter
- Posture system, can lead to executions, but also exposes yourself
Yasuke and Naoe both have their own stories and their own life. Can switch between the characters at any point - apart from during infiltrations.
New features - Spy Network. Helps you find your objectives.
Naoe has a dynamic view of the enemies.
Each of Naoe's weapons has a unique assassination style.
New animations to make her feel more agile and shinobi-like. More parkour flourish basically.
In interiors there are good places to hide, but the ceiling beams are a really good way to lie in wait for assassinations.
Thunder storms cover your steps and action.
Full extended deep dive here:
Star Wars Outlaws deep dive through that gameplay we saw before now.
Kessel Sabacc the card game getting a little showcase.
Turns out you can cheat too.
Jawa trading is a thing in Star Wars Outlaws.
Stacked bounty board on Tatooine that even sports Kay's own picture.
Kay can hold her own in combat, including taking down a Deathtroooper with a electric baton.
A lot of creature reveals in that developer deep dive. Here's the full developer breakdown for you:
Division details here:
And that's a wrap on the main show and post-show. Let's do a little recap of everything announced at the top shall we?
