Oh, Ubisoft. They are one of the biggest publishers in the world; home to some of the most popular AAA franchises in the industry, and a never ending source of E3 entertainment. An organization comprised of talented teams whose powerful imagination and endless creativity is rivaled only by the entire gaming press’ extreme feelings of collective awkwardness during a press event hosted by Aisha Tyler. At E3 2013, Ubisoft is bringing a ton of previously announced games the world wants to see more of. But what kinds of secret projects could the massive publisher be working on? Read on for a look at what to expect out of this year’s Ubisoft E3 presentation.
What to expect: Ubisoft has an impressive lineup of anticipated titles heading into E3 this year. It’s an absolute guarantee we’ll see footage from their flagship properties: Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and Splinter Cell: Blacklist. The publisher also wants to stake an early claim of dominance over the next generation, so E3 will provide a defining look at what original IP, and intended franchise, Watch_Dogs is truly capable of. With all the fuss over the recent delay due to multiplatform support, Ubisoft will also show off whatever brand new content the Ubisoft Montpellier team has designed for Rayman Legends; which will undoubtedly delight fans and prove to be worth the wait. News about South Park: The Stick of Truth has tapered off quite a bit in recent months, and given the fresh batch of screenshots just released this week, it’s safe to assume E3 will offer more details and a gameplay demo of the game’s near-final build. We should probably assume there’ll also be a demo of The Smurfs 2: The Video Game on display somewhere, because it’s a thing that’s happening whether we want it or not.
As a bit of housekeeping, E3 will offer a proper look at Just Dance 5, and should offer some details about the featured playlist as well as any new features being added for next-gen consoles. Ubisoft will likely also give confirmation on whether or not Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Patriots is still being developed and for what platforms. It’s most likely the initial version of the game was scrapped so the team could begin building it as a first-year, next-gen title. We should also hear what’s become of Furious 4; a game originally planned as an off-shoot of the Brothers in Arms series but has more recently been confirmed by developer Gearbox Software to have morphed into an original IP.
It’s hard to guess what types of secret announcements Ubisoft will be bringing to E3. With so many already-confirmed titles to look forward to, the sad truth is they don’t need to bring any surprises to have a good show and get people excited for the coming year. There’s rumor that we’ll see an authentic Brothers in Arms announcement, one that remains true to the third-person WWII shooter the franchise is so familiar with. Aside from that, if Ubisoft does have any truly original IPs in development, they’ve done a good job of keeping quiet about it. Any surprises the company has in store for E3 will truly be just that.
Wish list: You know what would really make me happy? A 3D Rayman reboot. Enough with the raving rabbids, that’s all well and good if you enjoy them, but it’s time for a brand new action-platformer starring Rayman. The 2D sidescrolling Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends titles are absolutely fantastic, but I’d like to see what a 3D Rayman platformer would look like on next-gen hardware. Reinvent his humble origins and create new villains if need be; so long as the ghost-limbed wonder is jumping and blasting his way through polished 3D stages, I’ll be content in knowing that old-school platforming is alive, well, and still viable in the modern world.
Next, I want the same thing everyone wants. The one thing we’ve been praying for more of since we got out first taste what seems like an eternity ago. The thing we deserve, and also the thing we need right now. No matter what the cost, Ubisoft must redirect every available resource into giving us: Another press event hosted by Mr. Caffeine. The world is crying out for more, and it would be an utter tragedy if we could never again- bahaha, I can’t do it. I couldn’t finish it. I’m sorry folks, I can’t even get through typing the rest of that joke. It’s just too much. Sweet, innocent Ubisoft; What the hell were you thinking?
In all seriousness though, as an almost obligatory wish list mention, all I can say about this next dream project is that it’s about time. The world is finally ready. Gentlemen, we can rebuild her. Better than she was before. Better… stronger… faster… in glorious high resolution. Of course I’m talking about Jade, protagonist of beloved cult classic Beyond Good and Evil. Rumors about a proper sequel in the form of Beyond Good and Evil 2 have been circulating for years, with only small teases and broken promises to fuel the hopes of countless fans and critics alike. No matter what’s been said in the past, Ubisoft needs to get up on stage at this year’s E3 and officially announce that the sequel is not only in development, but that it is being developed with the tender loving care it deserves. At this point, I think it would also be more than reasonable for folks to demand a mind-blowing trailer and a short gameplay demo to accompany said announcement. Words aren’t enough anymore: The world demands actual proof of Beyond Good and Evil 2’s existence, and I think it’s high time Ubisoft delivered.
Ubisoft has a lot going for it this year. The gaming press is enamored with Watch_Dogs, for good reason, and diehard fans around the world simply cannot get enough of the endless struggle between Assassin and Templar, or adventuring alongside Sam Fisher on a journey of international espionage. Combine their impressive catalog for the upcoming year, with the potential promise of reviving one of gaming’s lost loves, and Ubisoft is cooking with a recipe for success. At this point, they’d have to go well out of their way to shoot themselves in the foot to look bad at the end of next week, but for now, all signs point to having one of the convention’s strongest showings. We’ll find out for sure when Ubisoft presents their E3 press event, steaming live on June 10 at 6:00 PM EST.
What’s your most anticipated Ubisoft project heading into next year? Are you more excited for known franchises like Assassin’s Creed IV and Splinter Cell: Blacklist, or would you rather hear more about new IPs such as Watch_Dogs? How much longer are you willing to wait for Beyond Good and Evil 2? Let us know in the usual place, and don’t forget to like IGXPro on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or give us the ‘ol +1 on Google+. And if you can’t get enough of my shenanigans, (who could blame you?) you can check me out @GamingsNirvana, or add +VinnyParisi to your circles.
