A new listing from games rating board ESRB has leaked Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon Classic Edition, which has been rated for Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5. The game was previously announced as being part of the season pass content for Far Cry 6, but the leak suggests the game will also be released as a standalone title.
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon originally released in 2013 as a standalone expansion for Far Cry 3, which launched in 2012. The game is a first-person shooter set in a retro-futuristic dystopian world, featuring familiar gameplay in a previously unexplored world. Blood Dragon quickly cemented itself as one of the best additions to the Far Cry series, despite not being classed as a mainline addition to the franchise. The 1980's-inspired expansion features references to famous movies and video games from the same period, and its setting makes it wildly different to other games in the Far Cry series.
As listed on the ESRB website, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon Classic Edition has been rated for PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Stadia, and most notably, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S (via Exputer). The game has been rated as "Mature," which aligns with previous releases of the expansion. While fans of the game have known it will release as part of Far Cry 6's season pass, Ubisoft hadn't confirmed whether or not the game would be available without buying the DLC. Ubisoft has yet to announce the standalone release officially, but the ESRB rating shows its launch is planned for some point in the future.
While the ESRB rating doesn't give an indication of the release date of Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon Classic Edition, it's likely that Ubisoft is planning something similar to Far Cry 3 Classic Edition. FC3 Classic Edition was included as part of Far Cry 5's season pass, before being sold as a standalone game shortly after. If this is indeed what Ubisoft is repeating, it's possible players will be able to buy the standalone version of Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon Classic Edition around a month after Far Cry 6's release in October.
Those who don't pick up Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon Classic Edition with Far Cry 6's season pass will likely have enough content in the main release to keep them occupied at launch. The game will feature the all-new fictional island of Yara, overseen by the ruthless dictator Anton Castillo. Castillo, played by Breaking Bad's Giancarlo Esposito, is already shaping up to be one of the series' most memorable villains, appearing cruel and merciless in game trailers, though Ubisoft has been keeping quiet on the character's full role in the story. As well as introducing new weapons and an emphasis on exploration, Far Cry 6 has the biggest map in the series to date, making it a must-play for Far Cry fans.