Summary
Fans of theFar Cryfranchise are waiting patiently for news regarding the next project for the longstanding Ubisoft series, with the dust having firmly settled around 2021’sFar Cry 6and rumors starting to spread around what a potentialFar Cry 7might look like. While nothing is currently officially confirmed about the next release for the IP, many early reports paint a picture of the project being centered around bold changes to the usual franchise formula.
Aside from minor changes, one aspect ofFar Crythat the series has always remained fairly consistent with is its protagonist choices, with this being a clear avenue for potential change that the nextFar Crygame could utilize to create a more distinct identity. The recentAssassin’s Creed Shadowsrecently re-introduced the concept of dual protagonists to the series, and the narrative and gameplay intricacies that this brings could be the perfect match for a truly unique and engaging newFar Cryexperience.
A Dual Protagonist Approach Could Open Up a World of Possibilities For the Next Far Cry
While theFar Crygames are often associated with the high-octane, chaotic gameplay of their distinct open worlds, the narratives and involved characters of any givenFar Crytitle are massively important to how the game feels and is received by fans.Far Cryhas found success with its villainsover the years, with the likes of Vaas Montenegro, Pagan Min, and Joseph Seed being considered some of the most memorable villains in the gaming industry’s recent history.
This focus on villains with massive screen presence has often led to theprotagonists of more recentFar Crygamesbeing neglected, even being controversially voiceless at times, as seen in 2018’sFar Cry 5. Ubisoft clearly recognized this flaw in the development ofFar Cry 6, with the game offering a much more fleshed-out protagonist with a clear personality in the form of Dani Rojas.
It only seems right that the nextFar Crygame builds upon these recent developments to the franchise’s protagonist approach, with the player ultimately spending more time with a game’s central figure than any other conceivable character. Another Ubisoft franchise,Assassin’s Creed,has offered a huge protagonist shake-up over the years by offering two simultaneous protagonists to the player, first with 2015’sAssassin’s Creed Syndicateand more recently with theJapan-setAC Shadows.
Far Cry 7is rumored to feature an in-game timer that will be central to how players can progress through the story, potentially setting a precedent for bold new mechanics that would be a perfect match for a big protagonist overhaul.
Assassin’s Creedhas used this approach to offer distinct gameplay and narrative paths across two main characters, with each protagonist being proficient at different types of combat and exploration.ACoften splits stealthy infiltration and direct powerful combat between its dual protagonists, and this is something that directly applies to thebranching gameplay approach ofFar Crygames.
A Protagonist On Either Side of the Conflict Could Be a Game-Changer For Far Cry’s Next Project
Not only could this allow players to spec further into stealth and direct combat builds between protagonists, but this dual approach could also have huge positive implications for the story of the nextFar Crygame. The two protagonists could have conflicting relationships withthe major villain of the nextFar Cryproject, for example, allowing for the franchise’s next antagonist to have multiple sides that can be portrayed in a way that would simply not be possible with the traditional lone protagonist approach.
Far Crynarratives often tell the story of an oppressive regime and the relentless rebel groups that aim to topple it, and each protagonist of the next entry could belong to these opposing sides. This would convey the game’s conflict in a much more layered and compelling way, with the player then having direct control over how these clashes ultimately unfold and impactthe major setting of the nextFar Crygame. The main characters ofFar Cryprojects have somewhat lost their way in recent years by loosely revolving around a very rigid formula, and two distinct simultaneous protagonists akin toAC Shadowscould provide untold gameplay and narrative benefits in the franchise’s future.
Far Cry
Far Cry is a long-running first-person shooter franchise set across diverse locations around the globe. Developed by Ubisoft, the Far Cry series features open worlds, unique characters and villains, and tons of weapons.
