When rumors first surfaced that Ubisoft’sFar Cry 7would be introducing a time limit, many fans of the franchise were unsure what to make of the news. After years of delivering massive open worlds for gamers to explore, potentially limiting player freedom by introducing this new mechanic seemed like a strange choice. But while the rumored addition of a time limit toFar Cry 7would represent a major change for the franchise, it’s one that has the potential to revitalize the series following a string of sometimes underwhelming sequels.
While some elements of the still-unconfirmed sequel might feel familiar to franchise fans, withFar Cry 7’s reportedly cult-centric storyimmediately bringing to mind the Eden’s Gate group fromFar Cry 5, introducing a time limit could create a drastically different experience. Taking such a radical departure from the gameplay of its predecessors isn’t unprecedented for the series, though, nor for publisher Ubisoft. Not only has theFar Cryfranchise repeatedly reinvented itself in the past, but Ubisoft has also similarly shaken up the gameplay in some of its biggest series over the years.
Far Cry 7 Won’t Mark the First Time the Franchise Has Changed its Focus
Adding a time limit wouldn’t be the first radical revamp for theFar Cryfranchise, with earlier entries in the series showing an eagerness to experiment that’s been missing in recent sequels. Whether it wasFar Cry 2’s dynamic environments and minimalist UI or the decision to putFar Cry 3’s iconic villain Vaasfront and center throughout much of that game’s story, a narrative trend that became a series staple with subsequent entries, Ubisoft has almost always been willing to try new things with the franchise.
Although not every change to the series has been a welcome one, with gameplay mechanics likeFar Cry’s ubiquitous radio towersquickly wearing out their welcome, Ubisoft’s openness to experimentation has meant that nearly every entry in the franchise has introduced a novel new gameplay mechanic. Perhaps most importantly, this latest attempt at reimaginingFar Cry’s familiar formula comes at a time when Ubisoft has already had great success reinvigorating some of its most well-known franchises.
Reinventing Far Cry Would Be On-Brand for Ubisoft
While the rumored move to atime-limited structure forFar Cry 7’s campaignmay be unexpected, this radical change in style isn’t entirely unprecedented given some of Ubisoft’s recent releases. FromAssassin’s CreedtoPrince of Persia, Ubisoft has shown an increased willingness over the years to make significant changes to some of its most famous franchises. The Assassin’s Creed franchise may be the best example of this, with the series switching from straightforward stealth action to an open-world RPG format in recent years before returning to its roots withAssassin’s Creed Mirage.
Just as tinkering with an established formula helped theAssassin’s Creedfranchise find a new fan base, the same holds true for Ubisoft’sPrince of Persiaseries. WhenPrince of Persia: The Lost Crownwas announced in 2023 following repeated delays to thePrince of Persia: The Sands of Timeremake,some feared that the stylish side-scroller was little more than a cash-in designed to keep the IP fresh in gamers’ minds. Instead, developer Ubisoft Montpellier delivered what many hailed as one ofthe best Metroidvania gamesin years.
Moving away from the franchise’s tried-and-true free-form format to a time-limited experience would be a risky move forFar Cry 7, but a potentially rewarding one. While the change in gameplay structure may not be what some gamers were hoping for, it might be what’s needed to reinvigoratetheFar Cryfranchisefollowing years of fun but often formulaic sequels. And given Ubisoft’s track record for constantly finding new ways to breathe life back into its most well-known properties, gamers have plenty of reasons to be optimistic aboutFar Cry 7’s success.
