Far Cry's Future: Ubisoft Bets on Single-Player & Multiplayer

Last Updated: October 23, 2025

Ubisoft is charting an ambitious new course for the Far Cry franchise, evolving its strategy beyond a simple pivot to multiplayer. Instead of integrating a "more predominant" online focus into a single title, recent developments and credible reports reveal a two-pronged approach: a classic, narrative-driven single-player experience with Far Cry 7 and a completely separate, standalone multiplayer game, reportedly codenamed Project Maverick. This dual-project strategy marks a significant evolution for the series, aiming to satisfy both the franchise's dedicated single-player fanbase and the massive audience for online competitive experiences.

This new direction clarifies earlier comments from Ubisoft leadership that hinted at a major multiplayer expansion. While past entries like Far Cry 5 and Far Cry 6 included cooperative play and the map-editing Arcade mode, these were always supplementary to the main campaign. The current plan represents a far more deliberate and expansive vision, giving each style of play its own dedicated development team and resources under the supervision of Ubisoft Montreal.

Far Cry 7: A Race Against Time

Leaked details paint a compelling picture for the next mainline installment. Far Cry 7, internally known as Project Blackbird, is poised to innovate the series' single-player formula with a non-linear narrative centered on a race against the clock. The rumored plot involves the player character's wealthy family being kidnapped by a conspiracy group called the "Sons of Truth." Players will have a strict in-game time limit—reportedly 72 hours (24 hours in real-time)—to rescue their family members.

This time-sensitive mechanic promises a dramatic shift in gameplay. The story will be non-linear, allowing players to tackle objectives and rescue family members in any order. However, some characters may be captured or killed if not saved in time, adding a layer of urgency and consequence not seen before in the series. The game is being developed on Ubisoft's Snowdrop Engine, the same technology powering Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Star Wars Outlaws, suggesting a significant graphical and technical leap for the franchise. While the setting remains officially unconfirmed, speculation points towards a new, exotic locale for players to explore.

Project Maverick: A New Online Battlefield

In a move that directly addresses the market for persistent online games, Ubisoft is developing a separate, standalone multiplayer title set in the Far Cry universe. This project, reportedly codenamed Project Maverick, is an extraction-based shooter rumored to be set in a fictional version of Alaska named Alashnic.

This game will diverge significantly from the traditional Far Cry experience. Players can expect gameplay loops centered around scavenging for resources, crafting gear, and surviving in a high-risk, high-reward environment where they must successfully extract from the map to keep their loot. The game is said to feature mechanics like permadeath, hideouts, and a progression system built around leveling up and completing contracts. This strategic shift aligns with the massive popularity of extraction shooters like Escape from Tarkov and Call of Duty's DMZ, allowing Ubisoft to compete in this lucrative space without compromising the single-player identity of the core series.

Balancing Tradition and Innovation for a New Era

By splitting Far Cry into two distinct projects, Ubisoft is attempting to deliver the best of both worlds. This approach mitigates the risk of alienating the millions of fans who cherish the series for its immersive, villain-driven single-player campaigns. It allows the narrative team for Far Cry 7 to focus entirely on crafting a compelling story and innovative mechanics without being constrained by the need to balance it for multiplayer.

Simultaneously, Project Maverick provides a dedicated platform for building a robust, long-term live-service experience. This allows for the implementation of features like seasons, battle passes, and continuous content updates that are standard in the online multiplayer genre. The challenge for Ubisoft will be to ensure both titles deliver the high-quality, chaotic, and emergent gameplay that is the hallmark of the Far Cry brand.

As development continues, the gaming community eagerly awaits official confirmation and the first look at these two bold new entries. If successful, this dual-game strategy could become a new model for legacy franchises looking to innovate while honoring their roots, securing Far Cry's place at the top of the open-world shooter genre for years to come.