Ubisoft always packs its E3 press conferences full of new game announcements, as well as additional gameplay for titles it revealed in the past. This year was no exception, with the Ubisoft E3 2019 press conference delivering a mix of colorful, lighthearted titles with hardcore Tom Clancy-verse games and the return of an acclaimed franchise. As long as you weren’t hoping for a new Splinter Cell this year, there was something for you at the presentation. Here are the biggest games and announcements from the Ubisoft E3 2019 press conference. For even more news from the show, including information on Rob McElhenney’s show Mythic Quest, watch the full conference above.
Watch Dogs Legion
Its title was revealed prior to the show, but Ubisoft showed Watch Dogs Legion in action for the first time at its press conference. Set in a near-future London that has been ravaged by Brexit and practically taken over by an authoritative entity known as “Albion,” Watch Dogs Legion tasks you with forming a resistance organization to fight back and liberate the city for its citizens. The kicker is that there is no main protagonist — any character you recruit becomes the main character until they are killed, at which point they are gone for good. If you want to play as a Cockney street hustler, you can, or you can play as an ex-assassin grandmother. The cinematics change based on who you’re controlling and they’re all fully voiced.
In a lengthy gameplay demonstration, Ubisoft showed off an origin mission for a potential recruit. Multiple members of the DeadSec organization work together to locate and rescue a man skilled at hacking drones. This is done through a mix of reconnaissance, driving, gadgetry, and direct combat, and it includes some gruesome gun-fu-style takedowns. Though the moment-to-moment formula doesn’t seem drastically different from the previous two games, the potential for telling your own stories through the characters you control is impressive.
Watch Dogs Legion is out for Xbox One, PS4, PC, and Google Stadia on March 6, 2020.
Ghost Recon Breakpoint
Ubisoft gave Ghost Recon Breakpoint its grand unveiling earlier this spring, but the game was still given plenty of time in the spotlight, complete with star Jon Bernthal. During the press conference, we learned that his character Cole Walker will effectively be in control of an entire army, making it the most dangerous mission the Ghosts have ever faced. Walker’s loyalists are called the “Wolves,” and they will be hunting you after you are stranded behind enemy lines. Only with your wits and combat skills can you hope to succeed.
Based on feedback received following the game’s unveiling, Ubisoft decided to add A.I.-controlled partners for those in solo play, albeit as a post-launch update. You’ll be able to get your hands on Ghost Recon Breakpoint during the beta period September 5, with the full game launching for Xbox One, PS4, PC, and Google Stadia on October 4. Ubisoft plans to support it for the foreseeable future through additional content and free updates. For those particularly interested in the game, they can sign up for the new fan program, Ghost Recon: Delta Company.
Rainbow Six Quarantine
Rainbow Six Siege offers a terrific tactical shooter experience for competitive multiplayer, but Ubisoft is developing a new game for those more interested in cooperative play. Rainbow Six Quarantine is a three-person cooperative shooter, and it appears to feature zombie-like creatures as enemies. In the teaser trailer, a man holding a pistol crawls with his back to a wall as creatures skitter by in the distance. He looks down at his arm, which appears to be infected, and receives an auto-injection just as teammates arrive. The game is built on the same foundation as Siege, but it appears Ubisoft is throwing all semblance of realism out the window.
Rainbow Six Quarantine will be available in early 2020.
The Division 2 and The Division movie
Ubisoft is not charging for post-launch downloadable content in Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, and you’ll be able to play the first episode later this year. Called DC Outskirts: Expeditions, the content takes you out of Washington D.C. itself into the nearby woodlands, National Zoo, and Kenly College in pursuit of different targets. In Episode 2, you’ll head to the Pentagon to take on the Black Tusks, and Episode 3 will arrive in 2020 and put The Division up against a former ally.
Alongside the new game news, Ubisoft also reaffirmed its commitment to producing a The Division movie starring Jessica Chastain and Jake Gyllenhaal. The film will be directed by David Leitch of John Wick and Atomic Blonde fame, and it will be released through Netflix. No release date or information on the narrative was given during the conference, but it is one of several films Ubisoft has in the works.
Tom Clancy’s Elite Squad
Ubisoft is really into its Clancy franchises right now, isn’t it? Tom Clancy’s Elite Squad is a new mobile role-playing game that allows you to collect and upgrade heroes from several of the Clancy-verse’s biggest titles. Sam Fisher from Splinter Cell — well, he was at the conference — Nomad and Walker from Ghost Recon and characters from The Division and Rainbow Six are all included. Battles take place in five-on-five matches, and the game includes both a campaign mode as well as competitive multiplayer.
Tom Clancy’s Elite Squad will be available on iOS and Android devices. If you pre-register now, you can unlock Ghost Recon Breakpoint’s Walker upon release.
Roller Champions
Another game that leaked just ahead of E3, Roller Champions is a new roller-derby-type game with a futuristic twist. Zipping around on roller skates in an enormous ring, players must throw a ball into a goal that will regularly shift locations. It’s a skill-based game that Ubisoft designed to be fun to both watch and play, and its cartoony visual style reminded us of Pixar or Dreamworks, despite your ability to absolutely deck other players.
A special E3 demo is available to download on PC from June 10 through June 14. No firm release date for Roller Champions has been revealed yet, but it will be free to play when it launches next year.
Gods & Monsters
Despite the scary name, Gods & Monsters is one of the lightest games Ubisoft had on display during its E3 2019 press conference. Set in a world of ancient Greek gods and their “misadventures,” you play as a hero who serves them when they “need help.” You must save them by fighting against mythological creatures and tackling the dungeons and trials any hero can expect to conquer. The game’s watercolor aesthetic is undeniably gorgeous, and it looks like it will be appropriate for a wider range of ages than Ubisoft’s other titles. Gods & Monsters will be available on February 25, 2020.
Uplay Plus
Ubisoft is following in Electronic Arts’ footsteps with its own subscription service, which gives members access to a library of PC games. Called Uplay Plus, the service gives members early access to the premium editions of new Ubisoft games, as well as access to the more than 100 PC games available in the company’s back catalog. During the presentation, we saw older games like Beyond Good & Evil and the original Splinter Cell, so you will have plenty of games to keep you busy in between new releases.
Uplay Plus will cost $15 per month and is scheduled to launch this September, but you can sign up to receive free access at launch. The service will also be compatible with Google Stadia, effectively allowing you to enjoy Ubisoft’s games on everything from a laptop to a mobile phone.
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