Ubisoft’s E3 2018 press conference has come and gone, giving fans around the world a taste of what’s to come in the future; and the future looks quite bright, with the company revealing a dozen games — most of which are set to arrive no later than 2019.
With games such as The Division 2, Beyond Good and Evil 2 Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Skull & Bones, there was a good deal to be excited about. This time around, there weren’t any announcements that were legitimately bad, but some were definitely stronger than others, so let’s take a look at the good, bad and ugly of Ubisoft’s E3 2018 event:
The Good
The Whole Event In General
Though not as good as Bethesda’s showing, Ubisoft had a very strong showing this year.
What I liked about it’s showcase in particular is that the announcers and trailers worked together to effectively tell us everything we needed to know about each game at this point and time. Furthermore, we got to see gameplay (cinematic and actual) for the titles we’re less familiar with so viewers can know exactly what to get excited about going forward.
The Division 2
The only game developed by Ubisoft that I’ve played with any level of consistency in recent years is The Division, and that was during a time when Bungie and Destiny was at the top of its game.
Now, with the disappointment that is Destiny 2 (I got it on sale and I still feel ripped off), I’ve been looking for something to fill the void and it seems it will be filled by The Division 2.
Thanks to this presentation, we know the premise and story behind The Division 2. In fact, we even know about some of the nuances behind the new character progression system, which allows players to choose Specializations (each coming with unique weapons) once they finish the single-player campaign.
Furthermore, it was confirmed that The Division 2 will be supported for years to come, include eight player raids and have 3 DLC Episodes which will be entirely free.
Unless Destiny 2 pulls off something spectacular in the coming months, The Division 2 is going to send it to the farthest ends of the universe when it arrives on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC come March 15, 2019.
Skull & Bones
I like pirates and Skull & Bones is speaking to me on a very primal level.
As detailed during the presentation, players will be able to hunt for treasure in the Indian Ocean and every single detail about these expeditions will need to be planned out in advance. You need to check your fortune to know how the weather will be during your voyage and then you have to pick the appropriate gear in response. For example, choosing the right weapon will allow you to destroy enemy ships before they can do the same to your own, while carrying flags used by a particular faction will allow you to sail past them undetected.
The coolest part about Skull & Bones, however, is that the world is an open one, meaning players can team up with one another if their interests align (like obtaining well-guarded treasure), but such alliances can deteriorate as soon as those interests are fulfilled and what was once a four-man team can quickly turn into a four-way brawl.
Honestly, it looks like a more volatile take on Grand Theft Auto V’s heists, but with pirates.
Skull & Bones is due out in 2019.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
I’m not big on the Assassin’s Creed series, but any game that features the aesthetic, history and mythos of Ancient Greece and places them in an RPG will quickly find itself on my radar.
Hello, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey!
Thanks to the presentation, we know that Assassin’s Creed Odyssey will feature two characters — Alexios or Kassandra — who are the descendants of King Leonidas and it will take place during the Peloponnesian War. Furthermore, you will be able to interact with famous people like Sokrates and there even are multiple dialogue options you can make while speaking with them that can change the course of the conversation.
We also got to see some gameplay featuring Kassandra, where she is tasked with helping a group of Spartans who are being overwhelmed by a contingent of Athenian soldiers led by Diocles.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is due out for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on Oct. 5, 2018.
The Bad
Like I said earlier, Ubisoft did great this year. Even the titles that weren’t mentioned in the above section like Beyond Good and Evil 2, For Honor and Starlink: Battle For Atlas were all solid. If there was one thing that I felt was genuinely weaker than the others, then that would be Just Dance 2019 and it wasn’t even the game itself I took issue with.
A Shaky Start
Admittedly, I came into this conference in bad faith, as I expected Ubisoft to have a terrible performance and I was looking for anything to validate said expectations.
And it seemed that Ubisoft was happy to oblige, starting the presentation with an extended dance routine featuring a panda. For what felt like an eternity, I watched people dance for some reason, and I genuinely thought I was watching the wrong stream.
Of course, the dance routine came to an end and Ubisoft finally confirmed what the hell viewers were looking at: Just Dance 2019. As for when it’s coming out? This fall.
Thankfully, Ubisoft quickly recovered with Beyond Good and Evil 2 and quickly laid my concerns to rest.
No Splinter Cell or Watch Dogs
Despite pretty much every other major Ubisoft IP making an appearance, Splinter Cell and Watch Dogs was mysteriously absent.
It’s unclear whether this means that Ubisoft has nothing planned for either franchise or simply aren’t at a place where they can share any info, but it’s probably safe to assume that we won’t be hearing about anything concerning this game unless there is a surprise announcement at a later date.
Bummer.
The Ugly
Nothing…unless, you want to use that term to describe the experiment that players will be plunged into when they play Transference.
Seriously, the game looks creepy as heck.
Finale
That’s it for the good, bad and ugly of Ubisoft’s E3 event. What were your favorite (and least favorite) parts of the event? Do you think Ubisoft did a good job overall? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
