Ubisoft E3 2019- Do's and Don'ts; Hopes and Fears

By: Ryan Ramakrishnan

In a few days, Ubisoft will hold their E3 2019 press conference and in many ways, I am really excited for the event. For starters, the publisher already has a few confirmed titles on the horizon that are exciting for many, certainly for my taste. But also, there is a strong chance of at least a couple of surprises, chances for franchises to return with sequels that will be on our radars for both the end of this console generation and the start of the next.

I am personally most excited in all honesty for the next “Watch Dogs” which is all but confirmed. Technically, “Watch Dogs 3” isn’t quite a confirmed sequel but we all know it’s coming. Signs point to a reveal of the game this E3 and a release date of this fall. I think these long-time rumors are fitting and feasible. I loved “Watch Dogs” and “Watch Dogs 2” so I am looking forward to anything we can get out of the series.

Another rumored title to be revealed this year is a new “Splinter Cell.” This has been seemingly forever for fans of the series. The last title launched in 2013 so it seems like it's time for a return. The time since the most recent game, the cameo of Sam Fisher in “Ghost Recon Wildlands” and some recent Twitter ramblings all suggest it is finally time for the reveal. I think that Ubisoft ending the show with Sam Fisher’s trademark goggles and green light after the stage goes dark would be an awesome way to wrap up the show and surprise and please us all. I believe that any title of this caliber should be next generation, though perhaps a cross generation launch is more likely.

Speaking of Tom Clancy games, Ubisoft has their recently revealed “Ghost Recon Breakpoint” coming this fall. Though, I think this actually killed the element of E3 surprise, I am still looking forward to coverage of this game there. The Ubisoft press conference will probably show off more gameplay and go into detail of “Ghost Recon Breakpoint” and how it differs from the last. I think emphasis on the differentiation is important.

It is very safe to say expansion content for “The Division 2” is going to be covered at E3. I’m sure Ubisoft’s very-much-so alive “Rainbow Six Siege” will also get a trailer or explanation of some new things coming to it in the near future. Even “For Honor” could get that treatment, though I also could see a teaser for the sequel of the title, perhaps one with a more fleshed out single player campaign that the first.

Ubisoft will predictably show their next “Just Dance” game. I admittedly enjoyed the opening performance last E3 that was for “Just Dance 2019.” If we get another one like it, I just hope it isn’t too long. “Just Dance 2020” is probably the title for the game and it’s probably out early fall. Things like that are safe but still a part of Ubisoft’s overall M.O.

One thing that I surprisingly don’t want is “Far Cry” presence. I don’t think Ubisoft should be showing off any new “Far Cry” games, as we got two in the span of less than a year and I believe the series needs a breather to innovate and not grow stale.

Speaking of game franchises taking time off, “Assassin’s Creed” has been confirmed to not be out this year with a new game and that is probably for the better. Despite 2016 being a year off for the stealth-action game series, “Assassin’s Creed Odyssey” succeeded “Origins” after only a year but we are being told 2019 is another break. And that is likely a good thing. The thing is however, “Assassin’s Creed Ragnarok,” a title based on the vikings, has been rumored heavily as of late, especially for it to appear at this E3. I’m indifferent on this, as I love the new games in the series and I want to see this; however, I also feel like it's not necessary to reveal a game this year that would ship over a year later, assuming it is a fall 2020 title. In the end, I think Ubisoft is best to hold off on any “Assassin’s Creed” coverage for a while.

And I feel that about covers the bases of Ubisoft's E3 2019. The press conference may come with another surprise or two but I am always just so skeptical. “Beyond Good and Evil 2” was an amazing surprise but one that won’t launch for a while, as it is not even making an appearance this year. “Prince of Persia’s” return would be adored but also highly unlikely thanks to how Ubisoft evolved it to their other franchises of today. “Skull & Bones” is confirmed to be delayed and frankly doesn’t need more E3 coverage if it wants to be cared about. A sequel to “Steep” or “The Crew” is possible but not overly exciting as some other franchises, at the very least for me.

One game designer who I quite like is Michel Ancel, who of course is currently a part pf the revival of the aforementioned “Beyond Good and Evil” but he has his name under some other projects which I would absolutely love to see this year. “Rayman Origins” and its successor, “Rayman Legends” are delightful platformers, some of the best in the genre if you ask platforming fans, myself included. The problem is we haven’t seen the game get a third in its modern take yet. I would love to see a new “Rayman” but I can’t help but think we won’t. Then there is “Wild.” Announced in 2014, which is basically the beginning of this console generation, this game looked really interesting and ambitious. Since then, we have basically heard and seen nothing and that is a shame because of how compelled many were by Ancel and his project. It would be a spectacle to see a re-reveal of sorts at Ubisoft’s E3 2019 press conference, though, once more, I don’t quite expect that.

So those are all of my thoughts about Ubisoft and what E3 could look like for them. I shared with you the games we know we will see, those we expect to see and those I want to see. It is hard to say whether or not “Splinter Cell” jokes are really jokes; it is even harder to say whether or not games like “Wild” or the “Prince of Persia” series have a chance of revival once more. Nevertheless, I am a huge fan of many Ubisoft I.P. and I am really excited for some of their recent works and upcoming titles, both confirmed and rumored. I just hope Ubisoft does come through with some cool surprises and exciting trailers or gameplay demos, straying away from cliche things, over abundance on DLC for games as services and a lack of real shock value. Be sure to let me know what games you hope to see and hear about through Ubisoft’s E3 2019 press conference in the comments below.