Ubisoft Forward: All The Game News And Announcements

The Ubisoft Forward livestream took place on July 12, and it brought with it a variety of news on the company's upcoming games--namely Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Watch Dogs: Legion, and Far Cry 6, which had leaked in the days leading up to the event. There was also a free giveaway for Watch Dogs 2 on PC for those who qualified, but thanks to some technical issues, anyone is now eligible to claim the game for free. Notably, despite the ongoing abuse allegations--read more about that below--the publisher did not address them during the pre-recorded show, releasing a statement beforehand that it will instead provide further updates in the future. Here's what was shown during the presentation, including the pre-show.

Ubisoft Game Announcements And News

Just Dance 2020

Just Dance 2020 was the first game shown during the pre-show presentation, and it mentioned that six new songs were coming to the game and that a tournament mode was on the way. This Virtual Paradise content is out July 23.

Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet

Ubisoft gave a brief look at a playable sandbox that was used for the Apple TV+ show Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet. The team at Ubisoft Red Storm initially made a fake game for the show, but ended up making the content actually functional.

The Crew 2

Ubisoft Ivory Tower gave an update on The Crew 2 during the pre-show. The Summer in Hollywood update recently went live, and it will include special additions like The Beach and Neon Battle over the next few weeks. There are also special modded events arriving in August.

The Division 2

An Easter egg of sorts is available in The Division 2, as revealed during the pre-show. The game's rubber ducks were acknoweldged, as they were initially put in the game to remind a designer to finish something while the game was in development. It adds some hope into a world that is on the brink of collapse.

Trials Rising

Ubisoft revealed a surprise for Trials Rising. An endurance challenge has arrived in the game: the Gigatrack. A fan-favorite, the enormous track is the biggest ever put in any of the series' games and is sure to test your skills and anger your friends in multiplayer sessions. It's free on July 16.

Ghost Recon Breakpoint

Ubisoft detailed upcoming additions and changes to Ghost Recon Breakpoint. These changes come in the wake of poor reviews for the game last year as well as disappointing sales figures. AI teammates are finally coming to the game on July 15. They are fully customizable, including physical features, gear, weapons, and costumes. They will follow your lead if you go stealthily, and there are four orders you can give.

Watch Dogs: Legion

Ubisoft Toronto's extremely ambitious Watch Dogs: Legion, which features the ability to play as any character in the game, was showcased during the presentation. It showed how the different characters' unique abilities will change gameplay, and how they can fit seamlessly into the very political story's cutscenes. The game, initially due for release in March, will now launch on October 29, 2020 for Xbox One, PS4, Stadia, and PC, as well as Uplay+. When Xbox Series X and PS5 launch, it will be on those systems, too, and will be a free upgrade.

Brawlhalla

The fighting game Brawlhalla is coming to iOS and Android devices in just a few weeks. These versions will feature customizable controls, as well as cross-play with all other platforms. They launch August 6 and feature more than 50 fighters. Players can pre-register now and unlock a free skin at launch.

Mobile Showcase

Ubisoft dedicated a segment to its mobile games during the show, including Might & Magic: Era of Chaos, which features exclusive rewards. Tom Clancy's Elite Squad was also featured in a trailer, and it gave us a brief glimpse of Sam Fisher alongside other Clancy heroes.

Hyper Scape

Hyper Scape was only just announced this month and immediately launched into closed testing on PC. However, it is now in open beta and though a final release date is not available, the game is scheduled to arrive this summer to PC, Xbox One, and PS4.

Assassins' Creed Valhalla

Ubisoft fully unveiled Assassin's Creed Valhalla during the presentation, showing off gameplay and confirmed a November 17 release date that had leaked earlier. The game is planned for launch on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4, PS5, PC, and Stadia, though only current-gen platforms have confirmed release dates as the next-gen consoles' own release dates have yet to be revealed. The game's narrative director Darby McDevitt shared plenty of insights with us in a recent interview.

Far Cry 6

Ubisoft confirmed Far Cry 6 and actor Giancarlo Esposito's involvement a few days prior to its presentation because of leaks, and it presented a full trailer for the game during Ubisoft Forward. The game features the return of a fully voiced protagonist who can be either a man or woman. It's set to release on February 21 2020 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4, PS5, and PC. Here's everything we know about the game so far.

Several games didn't show up at Ubisoft Forward. Currently, it's unclear if previously-announced titles--Gods & Monsters, Rainbow Six Quarantine, Roller Champions, and others--will appear at Ubisoft's next event. We also have no news on a new Splinter Cell despite Sam Fisher's continued appearances in Elite Squad footage.

Get Watch Dogs 2 On PC For Free

Ubisoft announced that you can get a free copy of Watch Dogs 2 for PC during Ubisoft Forward. All you have to do is log in to your Uplay account after the Trackmania playthrough and before the show ends to claim the game, but technical issues prevented users from logging in. As a result, anyone can now register for a free copy.

Embroiled In Controversy

Ubisoft has been hit with an assortment of allegations in recent weeks. AC Valhalla creative director Ashraf Ismail stepped down following infidelity allegations, company executive Maxime Beland resigned after being accused of abuse and assault, and other reported employees have been suspended in the wake of rising allegations. It's unclear if product and brand marketing manager Andrien Gbinigie, who was accused of sexual assault, still works at Ubisoft Toronto, the studio currently finishing up Watch Dogs: Legion.

As a result of the recent allegations against a number of Ubisoft employees at all levels of the company, studio founder and CEO Yves Guillemot confirmed a "structural shift" is coming. Guillemot outlined a series of steps Ubisoft intends to implement in the wake of the company's #MeToo moment, from appointing a "Head of Workplace Culture" to establishing a diversity board that will review and improve the company's policies and procedures. One day before the presentation, several high-level Ubisoft employees left their positions or the company altogether, including chief creative officer Serge Hascoet, head of Canadian studios Yannis Mallat, and global head of HR Cecile Cornet. However, it has since confirmed that Cornet has not left Ubisoft entirely.

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