Summary
- Far Cry franchise sales have been strong, but reception has declined with each entry since Far Cry 3, reaching a low with Far Cry 6.
- The key to Far Cry 7's success lies in shaking up its antagonist to break the mold set by Vaas Montenegro and create a gripping new character.
- Far Cry 7 leaks suggest a plot revolving around the player's family being kidnapped, putting pressure on the antagonist to drive the narrative.
Though the exact sales figures aren't known for the most recent entry, the Far Cry franchise has consistently been one of Ubisoft's biggest money-makers for the last decade or so. Though Far Cry 2 sold a solid 2.9 million, Far Cry 3 blew those numbers out of the water when it released in 2012, selling over 10 million copies in its lifetime. And while Far Cry's spinoffs have failed to hit that same level of success, every mainline Far Cry entry since 2012 has done just as well, if not better than Far Cry 3.
But while the Far Cry franchise is technically in a great position commercially, it's at a critical all-time low. Since the release of Far Cry 3, every entry in the franchise has seen a gradual decrease in its Metacritic score, going from Far Cry 3's 88, to Far Cry 4's 85, to Far Cry 5's 81, to finally ending on the lowest of the lot with Far Cry 6's 73. It seems as though the same decade-old Far Cry formula is finally wearing too thin for many fans and critics, and if Far Cry 7 wants to be a success, then it's going to need to shake things up significantly, and a great place to start is with its antagonist.
Far Cry's Projects Blackbird and Maverick Explained
According to the latest rumors, there are two Far Cry games currently in the works, which are codenamed Project Blackbird and Project Maverick.
Far Cry 7's Antagonist Has a Lot Riding On Them
The Far Cry Franchise Has An Antagonist Problem
Far Cry 3 was a major turning point for the Far Cry franchise, essentially forging the blueprint that's still being used over a decade later, not just in this franchise, but the vast majority of Ubisoft games across the board. One of Far Cry 3's most influential inclusions was its captivating antagonist, Vaas Montenegro. A focal point of the game's pre-release marketing and the centerpiece of the game's front cover, Vaas is still widely considered to be one of the greatest villains in gaming, with Michael Mando's brilliantly unhinged performance sticking in the minds of fans even all these years later.
Much like many of the game's other core pillars, Ubisoft learned the wrong thing from Far Cry 3's antagonist. Rather than realize that Vaas was so beloved thanks to his excellent writing, performance, and in-game implementation, Ubisoft seemed to believe that simply having an unhinged antagonist would be the key to success. While Far Cry 4's Pagan Min was far from a bad villain, he wasn't Vaas, and the same can be said for Far Cry 5's Joseph Seed and Far Cry 6's Anton Castillo, even despite Giancarlo Esposito's inherent gravitas.
Far Cry 7's Antagonist Needs to Break The Mold
A large portion of the Far Cry franchise has revolved around its antagonists, with them often appearing as the central piece of marketing for the game, and acting as the sole driving force for the game's narrative and action. While antagonists are something that the video game industry often struggles with, Ubisoft making them such an integral part of the Far Cry experience has only served to put a target on their back and put an immense amount of pressure on their shoulders. If recent leaks are true, then Far Cry 7 is only going to exacerbate things.
According to recent reports from Insider Gaming's Tom Henderson, Far Cry 7 will rely on its antagonist more so than any previous entry in the franchise. According to the leaked plot description, Far Cry 7's inciting incident will see the player's family get kidnapped. From there, players will need to rescue each family member before a countdown timer expires.
If these Far Cry 7 leaks are true, then the game's antagonist will need to be even more enigmatic than ever before, as the entire plot seemingly revolves around their personal desire to disrupt the protagonist's life. This is going to require an antagonist with enough charisma and screen presence to convince players they pose enough of a threat to spur them into saving their in-game family as fast as possible. The inclusion of an in-game timer should also lead to unique interactions between the player and Far Cry 7's antagonist based on whether the player succeeds, and the antagonist's performance and writing must make the player want to see all of these.
Far Cry 6
- Released
- October 6, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
Play as Dani Rojas, a local Yaran and become a guerrilla fighter to liberate the nation. Welcome to Yara, a tropical paradise frozen in time. Far Cry 6 immerses players into the adrenaline-filled world of a modern-day guerrilla revolution.
Join the revolution and push back against the oppressive regime of dictator Antón Castillo and his teenage son Diego, brought to life by Hollywood stars Giancarlo Esposito (The Mandalorian, Breaking Bad) and Anthony Gonzalez (Coco). Playing as Dani Rojas, immerse yourself in the journey of a military dropout turned guerrilla revolutionary. To even the odds against Antón’s military, you’ll have to adopt the Resolver philosophy, employing an arsenal of unique and surprising new weapons, vehicles and animal companions to ignite a revolutionary movement that will burn the tyrannical regime to the ground.- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mild Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
- Engine
- Dunia 2
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Franchise
- Far Cry
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC, Stadia
- How Long To Beat
- 23 Hours
- Metascore
- 73
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
