The Far Cry franchise could be heading in a very different direction.
Far Cry's reported future has taken another unexpected turn. A new report claims Ubisoft has canceled one of the franchise's in-development projects, replacing it with a new open-world first-person shooter focused on player-driven experiences. The same report also suggests Far Cry 7 has faced multiple internal delays, although development is now said to be back on track.
The information comes from Insider Gaming's Tom Henderson. According to Henderson, the canceled project was not Far Cry 7, but an extraction shooter codenamed Maverick. Ubisoft has reportedly restarted the project under a new direction, with the replacement now known internally as Kodiak.
What happened to Ubisoft's Far Cry extraction shooter?
The report says Maverick was canceled after encountering development issues. Rather than continuing with the extraction shooter concept, Ubisoft has reportedly pivoted the project into a completely different game.
Kodiak is described as "an open-world FPS where 'player interactions and player-driven stories take center stage.'" The new direction is said to focus on emergent storytelling, allowing player encounters and decisions to shape unique experiences instead of following a more traditional structure.
Although Kodiak is reportedly reusing work completed during Maverick's development, the project has only recently passed its conception stage. That suggests it is still several years away from release, assuming development continues as planned. The report also appears to clarify earlier rumours surrounding Far Cry 7. Previous leaks claimed the next mainline entry would feature an extraction mode set in Alaska, but those details are now said to have belonged to Maverick rather than the next numbered instalment.
Has Far Cry 7 been delayed?
The report also provided an update on Far Cry 7, which is reportedly being developed under the codename Blackbird. According to Henderson, the project has gone through repeated internal delays and encountered several development hurdles. However, he says the game is now on "a good path," suggesting development has stabilised after earlier setbacks.
Little else is currently known about Blackbird, beyond previous reports that it could include multiplayer features. Ubisoft has yet to officially announce the project or confirm any gameplay details.
For now, both projects still appear to be a long way from release. If the report proves accurate, Ubisoft's focus has shifted away from the canceled extraction shooter towards a new open-world experience, while Far Cry 7 continues progressing behind the scenes despite its reported delays.
