Ubisoft officially announces Far Cry 6, though word on the new installment in the shooter series leaked out last week. They offer the Cinematic Title Sequence Trailer with the credits for the game confirming the poorly kept secret that the game will star Giancarlo Esposito. The actor is featured prominently in the World Premiere Trailer which offers an extended cinematic sequence setting the story. This concludes with a February 18, 2021 release date, confirming another detail that slipped out last week. A Meet Antón Castillo / Giancarlo Esposito Interview Video has a brief chat about his participation in the project. There's also an interview with Narrative Director Navid Khavari on the Tropical Setting and Creating a New Villain. Here's more, including details on special editions:

Far Cry 6 has been announced, revealing a Caribbean island simmering with revolutionary tension. The Far Cry franchise has always had a flair for fascinating antagonists, and Far Cry 6 will feature Emmy Award Nominee Giancarlo Esposito (“Better Call Saul,” “The Boys,” “The Mandalorian”) as President Antón Castillo, the violent leader who grips the island of Yara with an iron fist, promising a return to its former glory. With an arsenal of weapons and allies at your back, you’ll take on Castillo’s regime and fight for the future of Yara. Far Cry 6 is coming to Xbox Series X, PS5, Xbox One, PS4, Stadia, and PC (through the Epic Games Store, Uplay, and UPLAY+) on February 18, 2021.

As Dani Rojas (playable as a female or male character), you will help stoke the fires of revolution through guerrilla warfare across the island of Yara, from verdant jungles to the urban streets of the capital city, Esperanza. You’ll use a powerful array of weapons and vehicles, and build a network of allies to fight alongside you, including Fangs for Hire like Chorizo, the dangerously distracting wiener dog. As President Castillo prepares his son Diego, played by Anthony Gonzalez (“Coco”), to succeed him, you will do all you can to ensure his plans don’t come to fruition.

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Ubisoft announces a November 17th release date for Assassin's Creed Valhalla for Windows and consoles. The hard-sell includes word you'll be able to recruit a cat into your crew: Assault Castles, Repair Broken Kingdoms, and Recruit a Cat Raider on November 17. They also offer a new Gameplay Overview Trailer showing off some combat from the upcoming installment that takes the action series into the Viking era. This clip runs just under six minutes. But there's also a far more detailed Gameplay Walkthrough Video that runs over 30 minutes. Here's more on the release plans and related products including the soundtrack, a novel, a comic book series, and an art book:

Brand-new gameplay shown at the digital conference illustrates new features that players can enjoy, including dual-wielding, raiding, assaults and open world activities. Raids will be more action-packed and brutal than anything Assassin’s Creed has seen before, with players able to take advantage of a new visceral combat system that lets players bash, dismember and decapitate foes. Eivor will be able to dual-wield axes, swords and even shields against the greatest variety of enemy types ever seen in an Assassin’s Creed. Additionally, the return of the Hidden Blade allows Eivor to assassinate targets with deadly precision.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is an ambitious action role-playing game that places player choice and exploration at the center of the experience. Throughout the world, players will encounter gameplay challenges, unique and surprising characters with unforgettable stories and a variety of breathtaking landscapes to set foot on. Players will have the ability to customize their character’s hair, tattoos, war paint, weapons and gear, in addition to the option of switching between male or female Eivor at any time. Political alliances, combat decisions and dialogue choices can influence the world of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, so players must choose wisely to protect their clan’s home and future.

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The Hyper Scape open beta is now underway, offering the chance to play this newly announced battle royale shooter. You can get in on the action right now through this link. Here's the Open Beta Gameplay Trailer with a taste of what to expect and here's an Official Cinematic Trailer to set up the story. They also announce the beta includes a 30 tier battle pass and will feature a weekly competition:

Today at Ubisoft Forward, Ubisoft® announced a Hyper Scape™ Open Beta for all PC Players available immediately worldwide. Hyper Scape is a free-to-play fast-paced urban battle royale first person shooter. Developed by Ubisoft Montreal, Hyper Scape takes place in the distant future of 2054, where up to 100 Contenders descend upon the virtual city of Neo-Arcadia to engage in action-packed and fast-paced matches to be crowned champion.

During this Open Beta, Hyper Scape will introduce Crown Rush Solo, a 100-player free-for-all version of its main Battle Royale mode, on top of the previously available 3-player squad mode Crown Rush Squad, The Open Beta will also feature two new limited time modes: Hack Runner Squad and Turbo Mode Squad. Additionally, the Open Beta includes one new hack and weapon, Shockwave and Harpy respectively. These additions build on the previously available nine weapons and nine hacks from the Technical Test.

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Ubisoft offers a new Gameplay Overview Trailer for Watch Dogs: Legion and announces the official release of the upcoming open world hacking game is coming on October 29th. Word is: "Get your first look at new Watch Dogs: Legion gameplay. Recruit anyone from the entire population of London into your resistance." Ubi offers an article where Clint Hocking discusses how delaying the game let innovation flourish. The plan also includes Gold, Ultimate, and Collector's editions of the game. Here are the details:

In Watch Dogs: Legion, London is facing its downfall. Amidst the growing unrest of a restless London, a mysterious entity known as Zero-Day has framed secret underground resistance DedSec for coordinated bombings across London. In the aftermath, criminal opportunists from every dark corner of London took hold and filled the void left by a defeated government. As a member of DedSec, players will be going up against criminal opportunists in Watch Dogs: Legion; sadists, mercenaries, cybercriminals, and more; they’ll have to be prepared for a variety of situations. Players must recruit members into their DedSec Resistance to take on these criminal opportunists, liberate London and uncover the mystery behind Zero-Day.

Watch Dogs: Legion lets players recruit anyone they can see in the open world to be part of their DedSec Resistance up to 40 characters at a time. The London setting gives players the perfect backdrop to recruit all kinds of characters – who each have unique skills and weapons – to their Resistance: from an MI6 agent to a bareknuckle fighter, from a brilliant hacker to a getaway driver, from a football hooligan to an inconspicuous old lady. Players can play as any character from their roster of recruits and approach a situation based on their preference; whether the approach is from the sky while riding high on a cargo drone as a construction worker, or on the ground as a spy using high-tech gadgets like a gun-jamming watch and a prototype of a rocket-firing car, the choice is for the player to make.

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A new AI Teammates Trailer shows off more of the bots that are coming to Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint this week. Word is: "AI Teammates are back, Ghosts. Fury, Fixit, and Vasily have got your back. Customize their look, loadout, and behavior when the free update drops July 15!" This week will also see the start of a new event called Resistance in the tactical shooter. Here's the Resistance Trailer. as they say: "Support the rebel Outcasts and bring chaos to the Sentinels. Join the Resistance live from July 16 - July 29!" Anyone who wants will be able to check this out, as they also announce the game will be free to try next weekend starting on July 16th. Here's more:

The addition of AI teammates to Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint will offer new possibilities for solo players, who will be able to activate or deactivate them via the menu at any time, depending on whether they prefer to be backed up by their squad or play as a lone-wolf operator. Ghost Recon Breakpoint’s AI Teammates will retain gameplay features and abilities present with teammates in Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon® Wildlands, including the ability to execute given orders, the sync shot and the possibility to get revived. Additionally, it will now be possible to fully customize their physical attributes and gear. Players will also be able to pick their AI teammates’ main weapon, affecting the way they engage enemies in the world.

Starting July 16, all players will be able to take part in the new live event: Resistance! Nomad will support the Outcasts during their counterattack on Sentinel forces and assist them in their efforts to save prisoners, attack Sentinel outposts and stop convoys looking for survivors. By completing the live event’s missions, players will have a direct impact on the presence of rebels throughout Auroa. This will create an opportunity for the Outcasts to initiate faction warfare between them and Sentinel forces, or with the Wolves. Players will unlock 14 exclusive rewards upon completing missions during the live event July 16–29. All main missions will still be available for all players after the end of the event.

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Here's more from the Ubisoft Forward event. The Ubisoft login servers seemed to be overwhelmed by the demand, so we're waiting to hear if there will be some way to make good on their promise of free copies of Watch Dogs 2 for those who viewed the livestream.

• The Crew 2: Summer in Hollywood - Year 3 Teaser.
• Tom Clancy’s The Division 2: The Rubber Duck Easter Egg Explained.
• Trials Rising: Welcome Back to the Gigatrack.
• Might & Magic Era of Chaos: Ubisoft Forward Trailer. Mobile.
• Tom Clancy's Elite Squad: Ubisoft Forward Trailer. Mobile.
• Brawlhalla: Coming to Mobile - Announcement Trailer.

With the Ubisoft Forward presentation getting underway, this tweet clarifies that the allegations of sexual misconduct at the company will not be addressed during the pre-recorded show. However, they do announce more departures and further plans for changes resulting from the scandal. Word is Serge Hascoët, Yannis Mallat, and Cécile Cornet are all no longer with Ubisoft. Here's the latest:

Today, Ubisoft announced several significant personnel changes that are a part of the comprehensive work the Company is doing to improve and strengthen its workplace culture. These departures come following the initiation of a rigorous review that the Company initiated in response to recent allegations and accusations of misconduct and inappropriate behavior.

Serge Hascoët has chosen to resign from his position as Chief Creative Officer, effective immediately. This role will be taken by Yves Guillemot, CEO and Co-Founder of Ubisoft, in the interim. During this time, Mr. Guillemot will personally oversee a complete overhaul of the way in which the creative teams collaborate.

Yannis Mallat, Managing Director of Ubisoft’s Canadian studios, will be stepping down from his role and will leave the Company, effective immediately. The recent allegations that have come to light in Canada against multiple employees make it impossible for him to continue in this position.

Additionally, Ubisoft will be appointing a new Global Head of HR to replace Cécile Cornet, who has decided to step down from this role, as she believes it is in the best interest of the Company’s unity. A search for her replacement will begin immediately, led by an industry-leading recruiting firm. In parallel, the Company is restructuring and strengthening its HR function in order to adapt it to the new challenges of the video game industry. Ubisoft is in the final steps of hiring a top international management consulting firm to audit and reshape its HR procedures and policies, as previously announced.

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Here's the list of the bestselling titles on Steam for last week:

1. Valve Index VR Kit
2. Sea of Thieves
3. Halo: The Master Chief Collection
4. F1 2020
5. Satisfactory
6. Pre-purchase Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition
7. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
8. DOOM Eternal
9. PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS
10. Red Dead Redemption 2

• Diablols 2 Ep 1 "New Char." Thanks Ant.

• In Metamorphosis, You Transform Into A Bug And Look For A Job - GameSpot.

• Who Gets the Banhammer Now? Thanks j.c.f.

• How a pair of noise-cancelling headphones could protect your hearing.
• Can You Move Windows 10’s Notification Pop-ups?

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• Aukey KM-G6 gaming keyboard review- “Clicky-key goodness for the discerning typist” - GamesRadar+.
• Dell Latitude 9410 2-in-1 Review - MobileTechReview.
• Dragon Touch S1 15.6” Portable Monitor - Christ Centered Gamer.
• Gigabyte Aorus 17X review- A power gaming laptop with a keyboard that just clicks - CNET.
• HP Envy x360 (2020) Laptop review- AMD wins again - The Verge.

• Space Quest - A Son of Xenon - An unofficial fan made adventure prequel to Space Quest 1…
• Chinese RPG Gujian 3 has sold 1.3 million copies. Thanks Neutronbeam…

If you missed yesterday's Devolver Direct 2020 you can see a replay on YouTube (NSFW). Over the top doesn't even begin to describe this, and it includes some very meta jokes about the way games are marketed at players. Things that try so hard to be edgy rarely work, but I found it very entertaining. There's another presentation coming this afternoon with Ubisoft Forward which began at 3:00 pm EDT at ubisoft.com/Forward, YouTube, and Mixer. This includes the chance to get a copy of Watch Dogs 2 for free just for watching. And although Ubisoft has been in the news a lot lately over allegations of an abusive culture, this tweet clarifies that these issues will not be addressed during the pre-recorded show.

Well-Presented Links
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.

Stories

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• An 86-Year-Old French Woman Tries a Burger for the First Time. Thanks RedEye9.

Media

• The best pirate I've ever seen.
• Time Lapse of Comet Neowise.
• An American Pickle - Official Trailer.

The Funnies

• No Man’s Sky – Arcade Rage.