Ubisoft Forward 2024: Exciting news and announcements

As the gaming world gathers for another exciting year and Summer Game Fest is in full swing, Ubisoft took center stage at their Ubisoft Forward 2024 digital event, showcasing an array of new and upcoming video game experiences. The industry giant unveiled exclusive news, gameplay reveals, and tantalizing glimpses into the future.

Ubisoft showcased a diverse lineup of new and upcoming games, including the open-world action-adventure Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the city-building sim Anno 117: Pax Romana set in ancient Rome, and the VR dance experience Just Dance VR: Welcome to Dancity. The company also revealed new content and details for existing franchises like Prince of Persia, The Crew Motorfest, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Let’s take a look at some of the most exciting announcements from Ubisoft Forward 2024!

Star Wars Outlaws takes centre stage with a new gameplay showcase and details

Star Wars Outlaws took centre stage at Ubisoft Forward 2024, with the reveal of a new gameplay showcase video that followed the emerging scoundrel Kay Vess on a mission to Tatooine. In the video, Game Director Mathias Karlson provided a detailed breakdown of one of the game’s expert quests.

The gameplay showcased Kay’s journey to Mos Eisley, the legendary “hive of scum and villainy,” as she searched for an expert gunslinger to help upgrade her blaster skills. Along the way, Kay had to navigate the criminal underworld controlled by the Hutt Cartel, using stealth and her diverse arsenal of tools, including a grappling hook and kunai, to infiltrate a Hutt storehouse without triggering the alarm.

In addition to the new gameplay footage, Ubisoft also premiered a comprehensive game overview trailer for Star Wars Outlaws. This trailer delved deeper into Kay and her companion Nix’s backstories, the high-risk jobs they can undertake to earn favour with notorious crime syndicates, and the diverse locations they’ll explore, including the jungle world of Akiva, the ancient city of Kijimi, and the savannah moon of Toshara.

The Ubisoft Forward presentation highlighted the team’s passion for recreating the iconic Mos Eisley, allowing players to discover new parts of the legendary location. We also got a glimpse of Kay’s ship, the Trailblazer, and her ability to assist a Pyke Syndicate reighter under attack, showcasing how her actions can impact her reputation with different factions. With the new gameplay and overview trailer, I’m now even more excited to get my hands on Star Wars Outlaws when it launches on August 30, 2024.

Pre-order Star Wars Outlaws now on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S

Assassin’s Creed Shadows extended gameplay walkthrough

Ubisoft showcased a gameplay walkthrough for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the highly anticipated upcoming installment set in 16th-century Japan. The walkthrough highlighted the complementary dynamic between the two playable protagonists, Yasuke and Naoe. Yasuke demonstrated his mastery of Samurai weaponry, wielding a powerful kanabo for devastating crowd control, as well as a katana for precise strikes.

We also got a glimpse of the new “Spy Network” feature, allowing you to send out spies to scout locations and uncover useful information. When infiltrating the castle to assassinate the corrupt daimyo, you have the choice to play as the stealthy Naoe. In the gameplay shown, Naoe utilized a variety of tools, such as a grappling hook, kusarigama, and the ability to go prone and extinguish lights, to silently eliminate targets. The mission showcased how dynamic weather and seasons can impact gameplay, with rain muffling Naoe’s movements.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to launch on November 15, with early access for those who purchase the Gold, Ultimate, or Collector’s Edition.

Pre-order Assassin’s Creed Shadows on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S

Exciting updates and new content for The Crew Motorfest, Prince of Persia franchise, XDefiant, and Avatar Frontiers of Pandora

The Crew Motorfest is embarking on its second year with Season 5, which will introduce a brand-new island for you to explore—the volcanic paradise of Maui. Spanning over 100 square kilometers, Maui will offer diverse environments from the streets of Kahului to the lush Haleakalā National Park. Season 5 will also deliver a new premium PvE experience called The Chase Squad, challenging you to track, outsmart, and outmaneuver rival racers in high-speed nighttime pursuits across the islands. You can read my The Crew Motorfest review to learn more.

The Prince of Persia franchise saw significant updates across multiple titles. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown received a free “Divine Trials” update, adding 22 new expert challenges for players to test their platforming, puzzle-solving, and combat skills. Read my Prince of Persia: The Crown review to see why it’s one of the must play game of 2024. The Rogue Prince of Persia also received its first major free title update, introducing a dangerous new biome, new enemies, and a meta-progression skill tree. Additionally, the remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, which was first announced in 2020, is confirmed to be entering full production, with a targeted 2026 release.

XDefiant, Ubisoft’s free-to-play shooter, will kick off Season 1 on July 2, 2024 with the introduction of a new faction, the GSK, as well as teasing three new maps, three new weapons, the debut of Ranked Play, and a new Capture the Flag game mode. Finally, for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Ubisoft announced the first story pack, “The Sky Breaker,” which will launch on July 16, 2024. The DLC will take you to the Heart of the Plains, a new region filled with breathtaking biomes, new enemy types, and timed challenges during the Na’vi’s festival of games. Read my review of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora to learn more.

Anno 117: Pax Romana announced at Ubisoft Forward 2024

Another exciting video game announced at Ubisoft Forward 2024 was Anno 117: Pax Romana, the next installment in the beloved city-building franchise. The game is set in the height of the Roman Empire in 117 AD. It allows players to take on the role of a governor tasked with managing and growing their province.

The game will feature a vast, multicultural territory under the Empire’s control. You will be able to choose between starting in the Celtic Wetlands of Albion or the traditional Roman heartlands of Latium. Each region will present unique challenges and opportunities for you to navigate as you must balance the needs of your local citizens with enforcing Roman law.

Most notably, Anno 117: Pax Romana marks the first time the franchise has jumped to such a significant historical period, giving you the chance to shape the destiny of the Roman Empire through economic growth, diplomacy, and military might. The game is set to launch in 2025 across multiple platforms.

Just Dance comes to VR in Just Dance VR: Welcome to Dancity

Another exciting and surprise announcement at Ubisoft Forward 2024 was the announcement of Just Dance VR: Welcome to Dancity for Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest Pro, and Meta Quest 3 on October 15, 2024. This new VR experience brings the popular Just Dance franchise to an immersive 360-degree environment, allowing up to six players to dance together.

The game features 25 hit songs and original tracks at launch, including classics like “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen and recent chart-toppers such as Selena Gomez’s “Bad Liar” and Nicki Minaj’s “Starships.” The new two-hand scoring gameplay mechanic was highlighted as a key addition, along with the social Dancity hub where players can customize their avatars and interact with others from around the world.

Notably, Just Dance VR will leverage Ready Player Me technology to enable players to create personalized avatars by simply taking a selfie. This allows for greater self-expression within the virtual dance experience.

Celebrate video games with Play at Best Buy and win some amazing prizes

June is always an exciting time in the video game industry and we are expecting some amazing announcements. Enter the Play at Best Buy contest today for a chance to win incredible gaming prizes from Nintendo, Xbox, PlayStation, and Meta! The contest will run from May 31, 2024 until June 20, 2024.

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