Ubisoft Confirms New Ghost Recon Game in Development, Likely Live Service

Ubisoft has confirmed the development of a new entry in the Ghost Recon series, signaling a strategic shift towards live service models for its major franchises. This announcement, made during a recent shareholders' assembly, hints at a significant evolution for the tactical shooter franchise, which last saw a release in 2019 with Ghost Recon: Breakpoint.

Ubisoft's Vision: A New Era for Ghost Recon with Live Service Focus

During a pivotal annual general shareholders' meeting, Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft, addressed inquiries regarding the company's approach to live service games. He highlighted the remarkable success of titles such as Rainbow Six: Siege as a testament to their live service prowess. Guillemot then articulated Ubisoft's forward-looking strategy, emphasizing continuous enhancement of existing experiences and leveraging upcoming launches, specifically mentioning The Division and Ghost Recon, to further penetrate the dynamic gaming market.

Further insights emerged from Frederick Duguet, Ubisoft's CFO, who elaborated on the utilization of a recent investment from Tencent, which secured a 25% stake in a new subsidiary of the French publisher back in March. Duguet stated that these funds are earmarked for the future development of other major intellectual properties, citing Ghost Recon as a prime example within their first-person shooter category. He also indicated that a portion of the investment would be channeled into bolstering their current live games, such as The Crew and For Honor.

While concrete details about the forthcoming Ghost Recon title remain scarce, the statements from Ubisoft's leadership strongly suggest a live service orientation. This direction is not entirely unexpected, given the demonstrated success of Ubisoft's live service games like Rainbow Six: Siege and The Division 2. It is worth noting that Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, the series' most recent installment, had already ventured into live service territory, receiving numerous substantial updates between 2019 and 2022. Despite a challenging launch, the game's reputation was partially restored through these post-launch efforts, which might have influenced Ubisoft's decision to embrace a live service model for the next iteration.

Duguet's characterization of the new project as an "FPS-type" experience also sparks curiosity. Previous Ghost Recon titles, namely Wildlands and Breakpoint, were predominantly third-person cover shooters. This suggests a potential return to the franchise's tactical first-person shooter roots, although Duguet's phrasing could simply be a general reference to action games. It remains ambiguous whether this is the same project, codenamed OVER, that Ubisoft Paris was reportedly developing as early as 2021, or an entirely distinct endeavor.

Ubisoft had previously attempted to introduce a live service Ghost Recon game with Ghost Recon: Frontline, a free-to-play battle royale developed by Ubisoft Bucharest. However, this project was ultimately canceled following considerable negative feedback upon its announcement. It will be intriguing to observe what lessons Ubisoft has gleaned from that experience and how they will apply them to ensure the success of this new live service Ghost Recon title, should it indeed follow that model.

The gaming industry constantly evolves, and the shift towards live service models is a prominent trend. While it offers developers the opportunity for continuous engagement and revenue, it also presents challenges, as seen with the cancellation of Ghost Recon: Frontline. For players, this approach can mean a steady stream of new content and updates, but it also raises concerns about monetization practices and the initial state of game launches. Ubisoft's renewed commitment to Ghost Recon under a live service framework will undoubtedly be a closely watched development, potentially setting a new precedent for the franchise and its place in the modern gaming landscape. It underscores the ongoing balance game developers must play between innovation, player expectations, and business sustainability.