Summary
Though it’s still one of Ubisoft’s best-selling franchises, theFar Cryseries is starting to feel like a shadow of its former self. Once an innovative and rather experimental pioneer of the open-world genre,Far Cryhas turned into a heavily formulaic series, with the last three mainline entries and several spinoffs all largely following the same structure. But if recent rumors are true, thentheFar Cryfranchisemight be about to get the shot in the arm it so desperately needs.
Though it hasn’t been officially confirmed in any capacity, there have been multiple leaks over the last few months that suggestFar Cry 7could be quite far along in its development cycle. Many of these leaks have also claimed thatFar Cry 7won’t be just another run-of-the-mill open-world title where players liberate a nation from enemy encampments, but will instead feature a number of unique gimmicks that set it apart from its predecessors, and that apparently includes a countdown timer. But while this timer would undoubtedly giveFar Cry 7a distinct hook, it wouldn’t be without its potential downsides.
Far Cry 7’s Timer Could Be Better Used In a Blood Dragon Sequel
Far Cry 7’s Rumored Time Limit Explained
Back in September 2023, Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson reported thatFar Cry 7- known internally asProject Blackbird- would feature a narrative that revolved around the player-character’s family being kidnapped by an enemy faction known as the “Sons of Truth.” According to the report, this story would be paired with an in-game timer that slowly counts down while players are exploring the open-world, interrogating enemies, destroying encampments, and attempting to rescue each of their family members one-by-one. The timer would apparently be set for 72 in-game hours, which would translate to 24 hours in real-time.
A New Far Cry Blood Dragon Might Be Better Suited to a Time Limit Mechanic
Having a time limit in a mainlineFar Crygame is an incredibly risky maneuver. On one hand, this type of bold gameplay decision is exactly what fans have been asking for from the franchise for years now, and it has the potential to drastically affectFar Cry 7’s general gameplay structure, its mechanics, its villain, its hero, its side content, and its ending, all of which need a bit of a refresh following the last fewFar Cryentries. But on the other hand,Far Cry 7’s time limitcould be a major turn-off for some players.
While a time limit can add a compelling sense of tension to a game, it can also add an intense level of pressure, which some players could find overwhelming. This sense of pressure would only be exacerbated ifFar Cry 7was another large-scale open-world game filled with side activities, with many players likely feeling too pressured to complete the main story to even engage with the game’s potential side content. And if that’s the case, then many players might feel as though they’re missing out on a large portion ofFar Cry 7’s content.
Instead, a time limit mechanic might be much better suited to aFar Cryspinoff, andBlood Dragonwould fit the bill perfectly. Now over a decade old,Far Cry 3: Blood Dragonis still loved by many today thanks to its incredibly unique 80s-inspired cyberpunk aesthetic, its tongue-in-cheek tone, and its refreshing spin on theFar Cry 3open-world formula. Fans have been asking for aBlood Dragonsequel for years now, and this time limit mechanic might be the perfect excuse to finally deliver on those wishes. As a spinoff, fans would be expecting aBlood Dragonsequel to not follow theusualFar Cryformulaexactly, and a countdown timer would perfectly fit the 80s action movie vibe, potentially leading to something suitably bombastic and over-the-top.
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
WHERE TO PLAY
Welcome to an 80s vision of the future taking place on a bizarre open world island crawling with evil, now on the current generation of consoles. Become Sergeant Rex Colt, a cyber commando. Get the girl, kill the bad guys, save the world.- As Sergeant Rex Colt, you are part man, part machine, all American. You are a state-of-the-art Mark IV cyber commando on a mission of vengeance.- Experience updated graphics and gameplay for modern platforms to allow players to experience every cliché of this VHS-era vision of the nuclear future.- Take down the enemy with ninja stars, guns, or even just good old explosives. Your battle. Your way. Their tough luck.
