Ubisoft’s summer Forward presentation may not have been full of surprises, but there was still a lot to take in during the show.
Just Dance
Opening the show was the reveal of Just Dance 2024. With a live-action trailer, merging into a live dance performance, it was confirmed that game would be released this October and would feature songs from the likes of Miley Cyrus, Blackpink, Bad Bunny, AWOLNATION and Whitney Houston to name a few.
Just Dance 2024 will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch from October 24.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Next up was a new look at Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora with a new story trailer. In the game, players will be a Na’vi who was taken by the humans as a child to be trained to fight. Following the fall of the Hell’s Gate base, you are put in cryosleep only to awake 15 years later. Setting out into a new part of Pandora, players will have to prove themselves to the Na’vi people – who view them as an outsider – and battle the humans who are once again trying to occupy Pandora.
Avatar director James Cameron and Frontiers of Pandora director Ditte Deenfeldt both appeared during the show to provide more information on the game’s setting both in terms of Pandora and in the wider scope of the whole Avatar franchise. They also introduced players to John Mercer, the RDA agent responsible for taking the player character, and other Na’vi children, from their families all those years ago.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is scheduled to be released on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5, PC and Nintendo Switch on December 7, 2023.
XDefiant
The first-person arena shooter XDefiant was next up. After opening with a highlight reel of gameplay from the recent test, executive producer Mark Rubin was on hand to reveal more information about the game’s launch. Set to debut later this year, XDefiant will have one more testing session – open to all players on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 and PC – from June 21-23 and registration is open now.
Rubin also laid out the content roadmap for launch, which will include pre-season content and the Season One releases – which will include one new map every month for a year, five more factions, five new modes and more than 20 additional weapons.
XDefiant is currently in development for a Summer 2023 release on PC and console.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
First revealed during the Summer Game Fest Showcase, next was the first look at Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Taking inspiration from the original side-scrolling platformers, this all-new adventure focuses on the warrior Sargon. Travelling to the mysterious Mount Qaf, Sargon is plunged deep into this Persian-inspired world of danger and magic.
Using a combination of platforming, exploration and a little time-bending, players will be able to uncover the secrets held within Mount Qaf and those who are trapped within but be warned – Sargon is not the only one who has power over time.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is scheduled to be released on all platforms on January 18, 2024.
Captain Laserhawk
The next reveal wasn’t a game, but a series inspired by them. Adi Shankar, best known for his work on Dredd and Castlevania, took to the stage to unveil Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix. Inspired by the Far Cry spinoff Blood Dragon, this is Ubisoft’s first foray into the world of anime.
Coming to Netflix later this year, the show’s first trailer gave viewers a glimpse of the dystopian world setting, with a little touch of the satire Blood Dragon is known for along with more than a few easter eggs for other Ubisoft titles.
Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix will be debuting on Netflix in late 2023.
The Division: Resurgence
Releasing this fall, The Division: Resurgence is a new mobile game based on the co-op shooter series. Today’s show featured a new trailer for the game featuring a team of operators on a mission to take down enemy squads along with details about the pre-order bonus items which will be available to those who sign up before launch.
Skull and Bones
The long-delayed Skull and Bones brought a musical interlude to the show, with acapella group Home Free singing a sea shanty alongside the latest trailer. A closed beta will be taking place in late August and registration is open now via the Skull and Bones website.
New Content
A host of Ubisoft titles also announced new and upcoming content for their games:
- Anno 1800 will be celebrating the franchise’s 25th anniversary on PC and console,
- For Honor Year 7 Season 2 kicks off on June 15,
- Trackmania is available now on PC and console,
- Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope will get new DLC later this year along with Rayman content,
- Roller Champions and Jet Set Radio are to have a crossover event,
- Master Chief and the Arbiter are to join the roster on Brawlhalla,
- Rocksmith will be offering a free trial on PC and mobile,
- The Crew Season 8 Episode 2 is available now,
- Riders Republic will be getting a Skate add-on this September.
The Crew: Motorfest
Racing next was the first gameplay from The Crew: Motorfest. Taking place on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, The Crew Motorfest will see players travel around in a range of vehicles including boats, motorbikes, aircraft and of course, cars of all makes and models.
On hand to introduce the game was game director Stephane Belay, who took players through some of the different ways they will be able to experience Oahu for themselves, looking at different race types, locations and modifications so players can get the most out of their experience. As an extra bonus, Belay also announced that players will be able to take their vehicle collections from The Crew 2 and import them to The Crew: Motorfest. More details on this import option will be released over the summer.
The Crew: Motorfest is scheduled to be released on September 14 on PC and console.
Assassin’s Creed
The Assassin’s Creed teams had a lot to share during this Ubisoft Forward, with updates on three upcoming games.
First, was the VR adventure Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR, coming to Meta Quest later this year. The first trailer revealed that stories featuring Connor (Assassin’s Creed III), Kassandra (Assassin’s Creed Odyssey) and Ezio Auditore (Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood) will be among the first players can enjoy at launch.
Next was an update on the mobile title Assassin’s Creed: Codename Jade. Taking place during the Qin dynasty, the game will enter a public testing phase later in the summer, with players able to sign up now. It was also revealed that players will be able to fully customise their character in what is a first for the Assassin’s Creed franchise.
Finally, there was an extended look at Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Taking players to the streets of 9th century Baghdad, the latest instalment will follow Basim – who first appeared in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – on his journey from thief to Hidden One as he tries to also find answers for the strange nightmares and visions which plague his thoughts.
There was also a gameplay walkthrough for one of the early missions in the game. This was to show how players can go about their tasks – using a variety of stealth-focused tools and mechanics to blend in and reach the target unseen. Players were also introduced to Ali Ibn Muhammad and Nehal, two of Basim’s allies on his journey, in the presentation.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage is scheduled to be released on October 12, 2023 on PC and console.
Star Wars: Outlaws
Closing the show was the first look at gameplay for Star Wars: Outlaws. Set in a world of thieves, smugglers and scoundrels in between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Outlaws follows the story of Kay Vess and her (adorable) companion Nix as they try to navigate their way out of danger in the shadow of the Empire, all while just trying to make a living for themselves.
With around 10 minutes of gameplay, players got to see how Kay and Nix can interact with their environments during missions, how the wrong choice can have dire consequences and that the battles are not going to be restricted to the surface of whatever planet they find themselves on. With rival factions, players will have to build up their trust in Kay if they want to have any chance of succeeding. The gameplay demo also showed off some of the combat and even a little bit of speeder driving for good measure.
Star Wars: Outlaws is scheduled for a 2024 release on PC and console.
Watch Ubisoft Forward in full below.
Words by Megan Roxburgh
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