The Big Announcements at the June 2023 Ubisoft Forward Event

During the big June 2023 Ubisoft Forward games showcase, the French publisher gave us a good look at what to expect from the company for the rest of the year and beyond. They had a lot to show as they gave us a good look at what’s next from the company’s big franchises such as The Division and Assassin’s Creed, but the real highlight is the new Prince of Persia title as well as two licensed titles being developed by a single company, Massive Entertainment. Here are all the big announcements you should know from the event. 

A first good look at Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora 

The event kicks things off with our first good look at Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora gameplay, a first-person open-world game set in James Cameron’s sci-fi film franchise. It’s a spin-off game with its own original story and cast of characters but set in the same Pandora we were introduced to in the films.

The game is set to launch on December 7 for PS5, Xbox Series X and PC. 

xDefiant is ready to launch this Summer

The free-to-play multiplayer shooter xDefiant looks ready to slowly roll out this Summer (Somewhere between June and September). But to get more feedback and further testing, Ubisoft will be hosting an open session from June 21 to 23 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. They didn’t give an exact date for the game’s release date but they did give us a taste of how they will support the game after release as they’ve announced the game’s Year 1 schedule. 

The “pre-season” for the game when it officially launches will feature 14 maps, five factions, and 24 weapons. Once Year 1 officially begins, they will slowly release up to 12 new weapons and 12 new maps (one map each month).

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown was a pleasant surprise

We haven’t seen anything from the Prince of Persia franchise since the constant delays of the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake, which is why it was a pleasant surprise that they are not only working on a new entry for the series but its a side-scrolling game. The game was revealed during this year’s Summer Game Fest but in Ubisoft’s show, we get a good look at the game’s gameplay from the developers, highlighting that this game is a “semi-open world” and that there are time-altering abilities to play around with. 

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is set to launch on January 18, 2024, for Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.

Mobile game The Division Resurgence is set for a Fall launch

Ubisoft continues to branch out with its high-profile franchises as The Division will be entering the mobile platform with The Division Resurgence this fall on iOS and Android. The free-to-play third-person RPG shooter will have its own independent story and will provide a similar experience found in The Division and The Division 2. 

Pre-registrations for Resurgence are now live as those who register will receive unique in-game rewards that can be used when the game officially launches. 

Regional Tests for the game will begin today, June 13, and will run until July 24. If you can’t participate in the first test, a second one is planned and will begin on August 8 and will run until September 19. Regional tests are limited as those in Australia, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the Philippines are the only countries selected for these tests.

The Crew Motorfest launching this September

The Crew Motorfest is Ubisoft’s next open-world car racing game in the Crew franchise and is revealed to launch on September 14, 2023. This is the first time the series will be set outside the U.S. mainland as Motorfest is set in Hawaii. The game gives off a Forza Motorsports fun tone as the open-world game will have you racing through Honolulu, volcanic sloes, and lush rainforests.

Those interested in checking out the game before launch can register to be part of the game’s upcoming Closed beta taking palace on July 21 to 23 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Assassin’s Creed VR, Project Jade reveal, and Mirage gameplay

It looks like Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed RPG phase is over as they are bringing the franchise back to its roots with Mirage, the next upcoming mainline title for the series. 

Assassin’s Creed VR

But first, a VR experience in case you were hoping to relive your past selves through VR devices such as the Meta Quest and Meta Quest 3. Assassin's Creed VR was announced and is being developed by the team at Ubisoft Red Storm.

All we got was a CGI trailer, so they didn’t show a first-hand look at how the game will play in the VR space, but the developers did confirm that players will get to play as franchise favorites Ezio Auditore (Assassin’s Creed 2), Kassandra (Assassin’s Creed Odyssey), and Connor (Assassin’s Creed 3) in a completely new story. 

Assassin’s Creed Codename Jade heading to mobile

Assasin’s Creed Codename Jade is a mobile title set in third-century BC ancient China and is said to deliver the same open-world experience you would expect from an Assassin’s Creed game. All we get is a cinematic trailer teasing the project but developers have stated that this game will feature the ability to customize your character’s appearance and make it their own, a first for the franchise as in previous games you play the main character, reliving his/her story. 

They are planning a series of beta phases for Codename Jade to collect feedback from players and the first one is expected to start later this summer.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage

For the next mainline title of the series, we are given a good look a Assassin’s Creed Mirage gameplay as the series returns to being just an Assassin’s Creed game that is more focused on stealth. Ubisoft shared a lengthy gameplay walkthrough showing protagonist Basim going through a mission and showing us one of the game’s newest features, the Assassin’s Focus, which allows a player to chain multiple assassinations in one smooth motion.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage will release on October 12, 2023, on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.

Star Wars Outlaws gameplay

Ubisoft Forward ends with our first look at Star Wars Outlaws gameplay as the walkthrough is roughly 10 minutes long, and shows the game’s combat, a pet command system, the open-world, space combat, and more.

You play as Kay Vess, a scoundrel seeking freedom and riches as she and her companion Nix attempt one of the greatest heists in the Outer Rim. This is an original story set between Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and this game is also being developed over at Massive Entertainment, the same studio also working on Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. 

Star Wars Outlaws will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2024.

You can watch the whole showcase as they did have other segments like a dance number to promote Just Dance 2024, their new upcoming Netflix anime series Captain Laserhawk a Blood Dragon Remix, and a musical number promoting the pirate game Skull & Bones, reminding us that it's still coming out.

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