As a top game creator and distributor, Ubisoft always has a multitude of top games ready to release. In the coming years, the company already has some major game releases just waiting to drop. Some of these major titles include the likes of Ghost Recon: Project Over, Far Cry 7, Assassins Creed Multiplayer, and Far Cry Extraction. And all of these titles are going to really show what it is that Ubisoft is going for, namely the open-world multiplayer setup.
What are Open-World games?
Before looking at why this is such an important shift in Ubisoft‘s strategy, let’s look at what open world games actually are. Open world games are those that allow players to explore a vast, virtual world. This is interconnected and there are no real levels of linear storylines in place. As such, players are not guided through the world or series by stages, and instead have more freedom. This allows players to pursue their own objectives in any order they choose. Exploration can be done at their own pace, as well as the ability to engage in various activities with different choices and final outcomes. As these games have a non-linear gameplay, side activities can be joined too, which helps to create a more immersive environment for the player. With agency, the player can shape their own gaming experience. Most open world games also have a wide array of content in them as well. These often includes quests, combat encounters and other activities. This means that there is a very diverse selection of gameplay options, a rather large difference when compared to crash games like Aviator Malawi where players have a single gameplay option. That being said, like open world games, Aviator offers the player more control and choice in when and how they decide to end the game.
Going multiplayer
More and more, games are offering multiplayer options. These games allow two or more players to be in the same environment together. They are able to participate and interact with one another either locally or over a network. However, for many of these multiplayer games, the story and goals are very much fixed. Take Counter-Strike: Global Offensive or DOTA 2 for example. Both of these games, while being multiplayer, have very strict end goals in place. As such, there is little to no leeway for players going off on tangents or side quests. In fact, they simply don’t exist. Instead, players must work together to reach a final goal, usually in as fast a time as possible. There are more competitive multiplayer games where, in contrast to the aforementioned cooperative multiplayer games, players go head-to-head. But then there are also games like Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOs), like World of Warcraft, where players can interact, communicate and enjoy a more fluid and free virtual world. And this is the path that Ubisoft is taking. It’s clear why too, for World of Warcraft has been hugely popular for years.
Open world multiplayer games are popular
Unsurprisingly, they are popular for all the reasons you’d expect them to be. These games are far more social than playing a lone, and they give the player the time for exploration. They also offer a sense of freedom, which helps to make the game more engaging and real. There’s a potential for player-driven content too, and even monetization opportunities making them popular to both players and developers. Another great features of these games is that there is often user-generated content too. This means that the developers can extend the longevity of their game without having to do all the work themselves. With this in mind, it’s a great move by Ubisoft to begin focusing on games of this type for the future. Players want more freedom and the ability for player content takes the pressure of regular updates by Ubisoft themselves. Importantly, with the arrival of AI, these games are only going to get more immersive with even deeper narrative storytelling throughout. VR, cloud gaming and seamless multiplayer worlds are the next step in gaming, so it’s essential that game providers know this. With Ubisoft’s latest game titles released, it’s clear that this the direction this company is already heading.