Far Cry is gearing up for a major evolution. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot says the franchise will lean much more heavily into multiplayer going forward, aiming to keep players engaged for longer stretches of time. Speaking at a conference in Saudi Arabia in August 2025, he outlined a vision that moves beyond the series’ traditional single-player foundation, signaling a possible shift toward live-service elements.
While co-op has been part of Far Cry since the fourth installment, this pivot suggests a deeper, more persistent online focus. Behind the scenes, Ubisoft is reportedly building Far Cry 7 on a new engine rather than the long-running Dunia tech that has powered mainline entries since 2008. In parallel, a separate multiplayer-only project set in the Alaskan wilderness is also in development, pointing to a two-pronged strategy for the brand.
According to industry chatter, Far Cry 7 is being developed under the codename Blackbird with a release window targeting 2026. The game is also rumored to land on Nintendo’s next-generation hardware. Meanwhile, Guillemot’s comments reference an unannounced extraction-based shooter codenamed Maverick, which is said to be distinct from the mainline entry and designed squarely around multiplayer survival and high-stakes loot recovery.
How a Far Cry extraction shooter will resonate in today’s crowded market remains an open question. Multiple sources involved with Blackbird and Maverick reportedly remain uncertain about whether the new direction can fully leverage the franchise’s identity or bring something genuinely fresh to the genre.
Guillemot also shared that an Assassin’s Creed Mirage DLC is in the works in partnership with the Saudi government, set in the 9th-century region of Al-’Ula on the Arabian Peninsula. The announcement raises intriguing design questions, including how the series’ signature parkour will translate to a desert setting and how the team might navigate historically significant locations that hold deep religious importance.
Taken together, Ubisoft’s plans suggest a bold new chapter for two of its biggest franchises. For Far Cry in particular, the move to a multiplayer-first approach, a new engine, and a split between a mainline entry and a standalone extraction experience could redefine what the series looks like in 2026 and beyond.
