In another case of confusing messaging, Far Cry 6's narrative director is now publicly claiming that the game is, in fact, political in nature. The news comes just after Ubisoft revealed the upcoming open-world title's gameplay, which is heavily inspired by historical uprisings, such as the Cuban Revolution. Ubisoft previously stated that Far Cry 6 isn't making a political statement about real-world events or ideologies, and it faced severe backlash online for that initial response.
This is a common trend among AAA games and their publishers, with Ubisoft being no stranger to claiming its games are both apolitical and political. For many years (as was also seen with The Division 2), Ubisoft dances around the fact that many of its games, such as Far Cry 6, have inherent political overtones. Far Cry 5 satirized far-right rural America with its heavily armed militias, conspiracy-filled cults, and more in a Montana sandbox environment. Ubisoft claimed it wasn't trying to say anything about the real world, an argument that many still strongly reject. With Far Cry 6, Ubisoft now seems to be attempting to avoid such controversy again.
Despite previous comments to contrary, Far Cry 6 narrative director Navid Khavari released a Ubisoft blog post saying "our story is political." Although Far Cry 6 is set in Yara, a fictional country, the plot borrows heavily from stories of real guerilla warfare and military dictatorships. The lengthy blog post noted that the story of Far Cry 6 tackles the rise of fascism, the need for free and fair elections, and more. Ubisoft also spoke with experts to ensure the story was told with as much sensitivity as possible. Khavari states:
"What players will find is a story that’s point-of-view attempts to capture the political complexity of a modern, present-day revolution within a fictional context. We have attempted to tell a story with action, adventure, and heart, but that also isn’t afraid to ask hard questions. Far Cry is a brand that in its DNA seeks to have mature, complex themes balanced with levity and humor. One doesn’t exist without the other, and we have attempted to achieve this balance with care. My only hope is that we are willing to let the story speak for itself first before forming hard opinions on its political reflections."
Far Cry 6's Yara will likely parallel the reign of real-world dictators through Giancarlo Esposito's character, Antón Castillo. It's good to see Ubisoft lean into the game's background and deeper themes, no matter how uncomfortable it may be for the publisher or some of its shareholders and players. While some gamers prefer to distance themselves from politics - and that's their right to do so - embracing the title's clearly political story and gameplay elements is the best way for the publisher to cosign the work and dedication of Far Cry 6's development teams.
There's always the chance that Khavari's statement could ring hollow and that Ubisoft doesn't actually say anything meaningful in the game, of course. However, based on what's been shown of the story during Far Cry 6's recent gameplay reveal and it's first cinematic trailer, that seems unlikely. Though it can be sure that Far Cry 6 will put gameplay above all else, that doesn't mean there can't be a more mature and insightful story driving the action.
Far Cry 6 will be available for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, Google Stadia, and Amazon Luna on October 7, 2021.
Source: Ubisoft