Ubisoft Forward E3 2021 Showcase
June 12, 2021, 12:00 PM PT
Rainbow Six Extraction
It's been a while since we've heard anything about Rainbow Six Quarantine, likely for obvious reasons. The newly renamed Rainbow Six Extraction finally got its gameplay debut during the Ubisoft Forward showcase at E3 2021. While retaining the Rainbow Six name, Extraction is going in a different direction for the franchise, including evil monsters instead of regular humans as the enemies.
The demo showed off a little bit of gameplay, which seemed to combine the tactical gameplay the franchise is known for with an alien foe.
Rocksmith+
The original Rocksmith was one entry of many into the crowded music game market. Rather than being a power fantasy where you could play any song via a plastic guitar, it supported a USB connection that allowed you to hook up almost any electric guitar. It was primarily intended to be as much a learning tool as a game, but that and the overcrowd music market made it difficult for it to stand out.
Rocksmith+ looks to be a second try with a more accessible method. Rather than a purchased game, it will be a subscription service available on PC, consoles and mobile. In addition to the previous guitar and bass options, it will also support acoustic guitar via an app that uses your mobile device's built-in phone to track how you play.
Rider's Republic
Rider's Republic is the latest in the "massive multiplayer racing" titles that have become so popular. In the case of Rider's Republic, the core idea is that you have several types of racing, including skiing, bicycling, wingsuits and more.
You'll compete in large events in an open world where up to 50 players can be on the server at the same time, and you'll even see other events going on while you're in your own races. There are even hidden landmarks to find ones that can give you some bonus points. Of course, there's also a progression system where you can unlock new customization options to assure your character looks as cool, or as ridiculous, as you want. We'll get to see the full experience when it releases on Sept. 2, 2021.
Just Dance 2022
The franchise that just keeps going, Just Dance is also going to see its latest release this year. At heart, you know exactly what you're getting with Just Dance. You get up and you dance. It's one of the most accurate titles in video game history. The latest entry is going to include a bevy of new songs, including a remixed version of Todrick Hall's "Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels" which is being made exclusively for this release. Just Dance 2022 will hit everything under the sun on Nov. 4, 2021.
Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
This isn't technically a new game, but there's still a ridiculous amount of new content coming for Ubisoft's latest game. This includes updates with new abilities, skills, and even a new one-handed sword weapon class. There are also two more major DLC packs coming. The first, The Siege of Paris, will seemingly cover the historical Siege of Paris, though the gameplay details are sparse. There's also a teaser for a future DLC that seems to be far more focused around the mythology and supernatural elements that the main game and the Druids DLC embraced.
Far Cry 6
We got another glimpse at Ubisoft's next trip into the open world. The main gameplay segment was mostly a chance to show off more of the story and the intimidating nature of the main villain, Anton Castillo. Considering that the villains of Far Cry games almost always steal the show, it's not surprising that he got so much focus.
Also fitting the fact that villains steal the show is the announced DLC that is part of the season pass. In this DLC, players take control of Vaas, Joseph Seed, and Pagan Min, the iconic villains of the last few Far Cry games. They appear to have adventures in some supernatural (or perhaps merely digital) world, and considering all of those characters are very dead, it's unlikely that they just happen to meet. The DLC will also include a remastered version of Far Cry: Blood Dragon, the delightfully goofy DLC for Far Cry 3. We won't have to wait much longer, as Far Cry 6 releases on Oct. 6, 2021.
Mario + Rabbits: Sparks of Hope
One of the absolute strangest crossovers in video game history, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle saw Ubisoft's Minions-before-Minions and the classic plumber teaming up to shoot bad guys in a clone of X-COM. Against all odds described by the previous sentence, it was a darn fun game and one of the best exclusives on the Switch, so it's no big surprise that a sequel is coming in the form of Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope.
We only saw a few minutes of gameplay footage, but the game looks both very similar and very different. The Mario and Rabbid crews team up to pilot their spaceship across the galaxy to stop the evil forces of something called "Cursor." This will include new heroes, new villains, and new Rabbid versions of Mario characters. Rabbid Rosalina looks to be a dour and lazy take on the character, which is rather fitting considering Rosalina's iconic "emo" hairstyle. Hopefully the sequel can live up to the predecessor when it releases in 2022.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
It's easy to forget that Ubisoft made the last Avatar game, considering it came out not long after the movie and that was over a decade ago, along with the last "Avatar" film. Well, it's been a darn long time since the last film but the sequel is supposed to finally come out in 2022, and alongside that will be a new Avatar game.
The trailer doesn't give us a ton to go on, but it looks like it's sticking to the core conflict of humans versus Na'vi on the fantastic world of Pandora. We saw humans in mech suits tearing through the jungle and Na'vi on "horseback" and riding dragons fighting back. It's not 100 percent clear if it will be a game that features both perspectives as the original did, or even if it will be single-player or multiplayer. Regardless, we'll have to see how it shapes up when it hits sometime next year alongside James Cameron's long-overdue sequel.