By: Tyler Miller

Whew we’re cutting it real close with this one, but today we’re talking about Ubisoft on the Road to E3 2018!

Last year, Ubisoft had a great press conference that was driven by developers instead of a sole host. It was a gamble that paid off, as the devs were able to display their passion for their games, while at the same time giving us nice sized dives into their games without sucking up too much time or killing the pace of the show. It would appear as if that would be the same approach they’re taking this year, so I’m looking forward to it, especially with the games that I’m looking forward to at the show.

What I’m Looking Forward To

The Crew 2

The Crew may not have been the hit that Ubisoft had hoped it would be when it first launched in 2014, but they’re giving the franchise a second chance with the sequel The Crew 2. With a new focus on vehicles of all types, giving us the chance to race off-road, in the air, or on the water, there’s a lot of variety available for us to play with. While I’m not sure if we’ll be able to do this in the game, just the prospect of being able to go across the country in any type of vehicle is something that excites me. I liked the idea of being able to drive across the country in the first game, and it’s something that still gets me hyped and makes me realize just how far we’ve come in the gaming landscape.

The game comes out later this month, so there isn’t much time left that we have to wait for the game. I imagine that Ubisoft will probably just show a trailer of some sort at their press conference to remind people of how soon it’s coming and to get people hyped for the game’s imminent release. Whatever they show, I’m already on board for this game.

The Division 2

Upon release in 2016, The Division didn’t set the world on fire in the way that people were hoping. As updates and new content was added to the game, things were on the upside, but the game still wasn’t as praised or as big a deal as Destiny, the shared world shooter juggernaut that everyone wants to beat. I’m excited for The Division 2 because it’s a chance for Ubisoft to right all the wrongs that they made with the original and produce a sequel that take a big chunk of the mindshare and player base that Destiny and Anthem are gunning for.

As much as I love how well they recreated my home of New York, I think it’d probably be in the game’s best interest for it to be set in a different city. Could we see a game set in another major city in the U.S.? Or maybe we’ll get to play in a country somewhere overseas? Whatever happens, I’m looking forward to seeing what Ubisoft has in store for us.

Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey

After taking a year off in 2016, the Assassin’s Creed series came back with a bang in 2017 with Assassin’s Creed: Origins. With an Egyptian setting, the promise to explore the origins of the Assassins and Templars, and a totally different gameplay structure than in past games, Origins was praised by many as a return to form for the series. It’s surprising then that Ubisoft is pumping out another game in the series so soon, seeing as how taking a year off did some good for Origins. That isn’t affecting my excitement or interest in the new game though. Outside of the new ancient Greece setting, nothing is really known about the game, so I’m excited to see Ubisoft pull the curtain back completely and show us what new things this game brings to the table this year.

Splinter Cell

Splinter Cell has been gone for quite some time now, with the last entry in the stealth series, Splinter Cell: Blacklist, releasing in 2013 for last-gen consoles. Fans have been clamoring for the return of Sam Fisher and his iconic goggles, and they’ve been teased for quite some time. The biggest tease came this year with the inclusion of Sam in an add-on for Ghost Recon: Wildlands, voiced by his original actor Michael Ironside. This has everyone wondering if we’re actually going to be getting a brand new Splinter Cell game.

After all, why go through all the trouble of getting Michael Ironside back to play the character if it’s only going to be for a cameo appearance in a different game. Surely there must be something bigger going on behind the scenes. If there’s any time to put the fans minds to rest, it’d be at E3, where everyone’s watching and thirsty for some news.

Beyond Good and Evil 2

When Beyond Good and Evil 2 was announced last year, it seemed too good to be true. The game that was stuck in development hell, thought to never see the light of day was actually going to be coming out? Who would’ve thought it be real. But alas, it was real, and emotions ran high amongst everyone, especially creator Michel Ancel who can be seen wiping tears on stage after the reveal.

Ever since the reveal, Ubisoft has been keeping fans updated on the progress of the game with short developer docs on YouTube, showcasing new ideas that are in the game and giving fans a looking at how the game is shaping up. The game definitely looks rough, as it’s in a pre-alpha state, so I don’t really expect it to have that much of a presence at the show, but things look like they’re coming together well. I’d love to see some more footage of the game this year and get a bigger, more meaty update on the biggest stage in the gaming industry.

What I Don’t Want To Happen

Please No Goofy, Awkward Stuff Ubisoft

The past couple of years, Ubisoft has been pretty good when it comes to this point. There hasn’t been anything too goofy or awkward that’s just ridiculous and feels out of place, like laser tag in the audience did. Sure they’ll get silly with South Park or a Trials of the Blood Dragon, but those two games lend themselves to a silly, over the top type of presentation, so it works. Not only that, but they never let the goofiness get too goofy to the point where it’s uncomfortable and a mood killer for the entire show. So although I’m sure this is something I don’t have to worry about, I also recognize that this is Ubisoft we’re talking about, so anything could happen.

I’m really looking forward to Ubisoft’s show this year at E3. They have a great slate of games coming up that could really dominate conversations throughout the course of next week, and a great press conference would really help these conversations gain more traction. They have stiff competition though, as all the other companies are looking to have pretty stacked conferences themselves. If anyone could beat the odds though that’s not a first party, it’s Ubisoft. We’ll see how well they do when they have their press conference Monday afternoon at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET.