Far Cry 6 is out on various platforms, both current and last-gen. It is also available on PC. Currently, it can only be bought on two PC digital distribution platforms which are Ubisoft Connect and the Epic Games Store. But will Far Cry 6 release on Steam as well?
It makes sense that the game is available on Ubisoft Connect. After all, Far Cry 6 is developed and published by different branches of Ubisoft, and it is featured alongside other Ubisoft games. Likewise, many consumers use the Epic Games Store for their gaming purchases. It has many popular games, so it’s reasonable that it is sold there as well. One place where the game is noticeably absent right now, though, is on Steam.
Steam is the largest digital distribution platform for PC gaming. So, why then is Far Cry 6 not on there, and will it ever release on Steam? There are no clear answers yet, but it’s worth looking at previous games in the series to see if it's a possibility.
Why A Far Cry 6 Steam Release Seems Likely (Eventually)
When it comes to PC gaming, consumers have choices when it comes to digital storefronts in many cases, but not all. There are many popular games that are only available on their parent company’s distribution platform. For example. Diablo 2: Resurrected for PC is only on Battle.net. Epic Games has set up exclusivity deals with games on its store in the past. This usually results in games that are temporarily only offered on their platform. Generally, these timed exclusive deals last for six months or a year. This is part of the company's push to become a serious competitor to Steam, which has long stood as the juggernaut of PC digital distribution.
For example, when A Total War Saga: TROY launched in 2020, it was only available on the Epic Games Store. In fact, it was offered for free for users who downloaded it within the first 24 hours. This was part of a commercial deal between Epic and Creative Assembly, the developers of the game. The goal was to reach a new audience, and since 7.5 million people downloaded it in those 24 hours, it seems to have worked. After a year of updates and DLC for Total War Saga: TROY, the game did finally release on Steam.
While Far Cry 6 was not offered for free, it looks like a similar deal was worked out between Epic and Ubisoft. The other games in the Far Cry series that were released for PC are currently available on Steam, so it seems likely that at some point the game will come out there, too. This could happen in six months, or perhaps a year. This is speculation, though, since there are games that have been released on the Epic Games Store which have never come out on Steam. Considering how popular the Far Cry series is, however, it's likely that Far Cry 6 will be sold on Steam eventually.