Ubisoft Forward 2023: What to expect?

Ubisoft Forward 2023 is the company’s big summer showcase for updating players on an array of its in-the-works titles, including some of the most anticipated upcoming games for 2023 and beyond. The event will take place on June 12, 2023, at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST / 7PM CET, and will be streamed live on YouTube, Twitch, and Ubisoft’s official website.

Ubisoft Forward 2023 is happening despite the technically canceled E3 2023, as Ubisoft has decided to skip the annual gaming expo and hold a separate show in Los Angeles instead. This is part of Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest, a series of digital events that will celebrate the video game industry throughout June and July.

Also read: Assassin’s Creed Mirage: All we know

Ubisoft Forward 2023 is not only a showcase of Ubisoft’s upcoming games, but also an event that celebrates the company’s 35th anniversary. Ubisoft was founded in 1988 by the Guillemot brothers in France, and since then it has grown into one of the largest and most diverse video game publishers in the world, with over 40 studios across 20 countries and more than 18,000 employees.

The event will also offer some rewards and incentives for viewers who tune in live. For example, viewers who link their Ubisoft account to their Twitch account will be able to earn some free in-game items and cosmetics for some of Ubisoft’s games, such as Assassin’s Creed Mirage, The Division: Heartland, and Watch Dogs: Legion. Viewers who watch the event on Ubisoft’s website will also be able to participate in some interactive polls and quizzes, and get a chance to win some exclusive prizes and merchandise.

Ubisoft Forward 2023 will be a celebration of Ubisoft’s past, present, and future, as well as a thank you to the fans who have supported the company for 35 years. The event will showcase some of the most anticipated games of 2023 and beyond, as well as some surprises that might delight or shock the gaming community.

So what can we expect to see at Ubisoft Forward 2023? Here are some of the possible announcements and updates that could make an appearance at the event.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage

One of the most anticipated games that will be showcased at Ubisoft Forward 2023 is Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the next installment in the popular franchise that has sold over 155 million copies worldwide. The game is set in ninth-century Baghdad, during the peak of the Abbasid Caliphate and the Islamic Golden Age. The game will feature a new protagonist, Basim Ibn Ishaq, a cunning street thief who has nightmarish visions and seeks answers and justice. He will join an ancient organization of Assassins and come to understand a new creed – one that will change his fate in ways he never could have imagined.

The gameplay trailer for Assassin’s Creed Mirage, which was released on May 25, 2023, reveals some of the features and mechanics that will make this game a tribute to the original experience that defined the franchise for 15 years. Here are some of the major details from the trailer:

• Social stealth: One of the core elements of the gameplay is social stealth, which allows Basim to blend in with crowds, sit on benches, perform distractions, and use disguises to avoid detection. The trailer shows Basim wearing different outfits, such as a scholar’s robe, a merchant’s turban, and a beggar’s cloak, to infiltrate various locations and get close to his targets. The trailer also shows Basim using a new tool called the Smoke Bomb, which can create a cloud of smoke to escape or hide from enemies.

• Parkour: Another core element of the gameplay is parkour, which enables Basim to traverse the city with agility and fluidity. The trailer shows Basim running on rooftops, climbing walls, jumping over gaps, sliding under obstacles, and swinging on ropes. The trailer also shows Basim using a new tool called the Grappling Hook, which can help him reach higher places or cross larger distances.
• Assassinations: The final core element of the gameplay is assassinations, which allow Basim to stealthily eliminate his targets with his hidden blade or other weapons. The trailer shows Basim using various methods to kill his enemies, such as stabbing them from behind, dropping on them from above, poisoning them with a dart, or throwing them off a ledge. The trailer also shows Basim using a new tool called the Decoy, which can create a holographic projection of himself to lure enemies away or confuse them.

• Black Box missions: Mirage also marks the return of the Black Box assassination missions from Assassin’s Creed Unity and Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, in which players have to explore the environment to find different ways to reach and eliminate their targets. The trailer shows Basim getting contracts at the Assassin’s bureaus, collecting vital clues, and choosing his own approach to complete his missions. The trailer also shows Basim interacting with historical figures that shaped the Golden Age of Baghdad, such as Harun al-Rashid, Al-Khwarizmi, and Al-Jahiz.
• City life: The trailer also showcases the immersive and reactive city of Baghdad, which is divided into four unique districts: Karkh, Round City, Rusafa, and Khorasan. Each district has its own architecture, culture, and activities for players to discover and enjoy. The trailer shows Basim encountering various world events and side quests, such as helping a street performer, rescuing a kidnapped child, or stopping a thief. The trailer also shows Basim witnessing some of the wonders of Baghdad, such as the House of Wisdom, the Grand Mosque, and the Bayt al-Hikma.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage promises to be a powerful coming-of-age story that follows the transformation of a defiant young man into a refined Master Assassin with a conflicted destiny. The game will offer players a modern take on the features and gameplay that have made Assassin’s Creed one of the most successful franchises in gaming history.

Skull and Bones

Skull and Bones is a pirate adventure game that has been in development since 2017, and has faced several delays and challenges along the way. The game is set in the Indian Ocean during the Golden Age of Piracy, and will let players customize their own ships and crews, and explore a dynamic open world with both single-player and multiplayer modes.

The gameplay trailer for Skull and Bones, which was released on January 13, 2023, reveals some of the features and mechanics that will make this game a thrilling and immersive experience. Here are some of the major details from the trailer:

• Ship customization: Players will be able to choose from different types of ships, such as frigates, brigs, sloops, and galleons, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Players will also be able to modify their ships with various cosmetic and functional items, such as sails, flags, figureheads, cannons, mortars, and harpoons. The trailer shows players changing their ship’s appearance and loadout at a port or a hideout.

• Naval combat: Players will have to master the art of naval combat, which involves maneuvering their ship, managing their crew, firing their weapons, boarding enemy vessels, and escaping from danger. The trailer shows players engaging in various types of battles, such as skirmishes with rival pirates, ambushes by the British Navy, raids on merchant convoys, and clashes with legendary ships like the Flying Dutchman. The trailer also shows players using different tactics and strategies, such as using the wind to their advantage, hiding behind islands or clouds, using special abilities like ramming or broadsiding.

• Open world exploration: Players will be able to explore a vast and diverse open world that changes with the seasons and the weather. The trailer shows players sailing through different regions of the Indian Ocean, such as the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, the Maldives Islands, and the Strait of Malacca. The trailer also shows players encountering various events and activities on their journey, such as hunting whales or sharks, salvaging shipwrecks or treasure chests, discovering secrets or landmarks.
• Multiplayer modes: Players will be able to team up with other players online or offline to form pirate gangs and take on missions or challenges together. The trailer shows players joining forces to attack a fortified outpost or a massive warship. Players will also be able to compete with other players online or offline in different modes and scenarios. The trailer shows players fighting for loot or territory in a mode called Plunder.

Skull and Bones promises to be an epic pirate adventure that will offer players a rich and varied gameplay experience. The game is expected to launch in 2023-2024 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Another game that was originally scheduled for a 2022 release but was subsequently delayed to sometime in 2023-2024 is Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. This is a first-person action-adventure game based on James Cameron’s sci-fi blockbuster Avatar, which will have four sequels coming out in the next few years. The game is developed by Massive Entertainment, the studio behind The Division series, and will use the Snowdrop engine to create a stunning open-world rendition of Pandora.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora will let players explore the lush alien world as a Na’vi warrior, who will have to face various threats from both humans and wildlife. The game will also feature online co-op modes where players can team up with other Na’vi to protect their home. We haven’t seen much of the game since its announcement trailer at E3 2019, so it would be nice to get some more details and gameplay footage at Ubisoft Forward 2023.

Xefiant

Xefiant is a new free-to-play shooter from Ubisoft that was revealed earlier this year. The game is described as a “competitive hero shooter with a twist”, where players can mix and match different abilities from various characters to create their own unique playstyle. The game will feature six different factions with their own lore and aesthetics, as well as various maps and modes to choose from.

Xefiant is set to launch sometime this year on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Stadia. We can expect to see more of the game at Ubisoft Forward 2023, including some gameplay footage, character reveals, and beta dates.

The Crew: Motorfest

The Crew: Motorfest is an upcoming arcade racer from Ubisoft that will take players on a wild ride across various locations in North America. The game will feature a variety of vehicles to choose from, including cars, bikes, boats, planes, helicopters, and more. The game will also have a dynamic weather system that will affect the driving conditions and gameplay.

The Crew: Motorfest is due to launch this year on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S. We can expect to see more of the game at Ubisoft Forward 2023, including some gameplay footage, location reveals, and customization options.

Ubisoft Star Wars Game

One of the most exciting projects that Ubisoft is working on is an unnamed open-world Star Wars game that was announced earlier this year. The game is being developed by Massive Entertainment in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games, and will use the Snowdrop engine to create a new Star Wars adventure. Not much is known about the game yet, except that it will feature an original story set in a never-before-seen Star Wars era.

According to a recent report by Bloomberg , the Ubisoft Star Wars game is set to launch in early 2024, which means that it could still be too early to show anything at Ubisoft Forward 2023. However, we can always hope for a surprise teaser or announcement that could give us some hints about what to expect from this ambitious project.

There are also some other games that could make a surprise appearance at Ubisoft Forward 2023, such as:

• Beyond Good and Evil 2: The long-awaited sequel to the cult classic action-adventure game, which was first announced in 2008. The game will be a prequel to the original game, and feature a vast sci-fi universe with multiple planets and characters. The game has no release date yet, but Ubisoft has been sharing some development updates with fans.

• Splinter Cell: The stealth action game series, which has been dormant since 2013’s Blacklist. Fans have been clamoring for a new Splinter Cell game for years, and Ubisoft has teased some possible projects involving the franchise, such as an animated series for Netflix and a VR game for Oculus. However, there is no confirmation of a new mainline Splinter Cell game yet.

These are some of the possible games that could make an appearance at Ubisoft Forward 2023. Of course, there could also be some surprises or new announcements that we don’t know about yet. Whatever happens, we’re sure that Ubisoft Forward 2023 will be an exciting event for all fans of Ubisoft games.

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