What new games and videos are there at Ubisoft Forward? We show you all the info and news in a compact overview
Ubisoft sets the course for the future with the Ubisoft Forward 2023 on 12 June. As usual, the French publisher showed numerous new trailers for announced games, updates on ongoing live titles and more.
Here we summarise in a nutshell what there was to see at Ubisoft Forward 2023 from Assassin’s Creed, Avatar, Star Wars and Co. You can also see all the important gameplay videos here. We cover the topics in chronological order from the show.
Table of Contents
Just Dance 2024
It’s become a tradition for Ubisoft: The show kicked off with a colourful dance-off to the latest spin-off of Just Dance. Just Dance 2024 will be released on 24 October 2023, initially only for Nintendo Switch.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
As the first major game, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora was reviewed in detail, lots of new gameplay included. We take on the role of a Na’vi who wakes up after 15 years in deep sleep on an altered Pandora, which has been occupied by the human RDA.
Now it’s a matter of finding other Na`vi tribes and drawing them to your side. To traverse the large open world, our Na’vi uses an Ikran, for combat traditional weapons like bow and arrow. Later, however, human equipment such as assault rifles and the like will also become available.
XDefiant
Ubisoft’s upcoming multiplayer shooter XDefiant first showed off some gameplay from the testing stages. Afterwards, the publisher announced an open beta.
More importantly, the release date was also revealed. XDefiant is to be released “later in the summer” of 2023. So it won’t be too long now. Exactly when the shooter reminiscent of CoD will be released was not announced.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Next into focus was the new (and old-fashionedly designed) Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. The title returns very closely to its 2D origins.
We take on the task of rescuing a kidnapped prince – and hop, puzzle and fight our way through graphically detailed areas from a sidescroller perspective.
More than 30 years after the first game, a lot has happened outside of the graphics, of course: the combat system of the new game alone seems much more complex.
The game will be released on 18 January 2024.
The Crew: Motorfest
The new spin-off of the racing game series had the engine howling at idle at Ubisoft Forward. In the trailer for The Crew: Motorfest we once again see a drivable open world and all kinds of racing disciplines, including even Formula 1 cars.
Motorfest moves the arcade racing circus to Hawaii. Nevertheless, there’s also Japanese-inspired street racing in neon lights. The Crew Motorfest also offers off-road racing. Numerous real car brands are represented, from Porsche to Toyota to Lamborghini.
In addition, your own car collection from The Crew 2 can be transferred to the new game at no extra cost.
The Crew Motorfest will be released on September 14, 2023, with three days of pre-release access for purchasers of more expensive editions.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage
The hotly anticipated new main installment in the series has been treated to a new gameplay trailer. Assassin’s Creed Mirage lets us take on the role of Basim, who was featured as an NPC in the predecessor Valhalla, and make our way through ancient Baghdad.
With its focus on a large city, Ubisoft returns to the origins of Assassin’s Creed with Mirage. We review the new AC in this article. Editor Steffi is still sceptical about some aspects of Mirage.
Here you can see the new gameplay trailer, which focuses on climbing, sneaking and assassination:
Star Wars: Outlaws
Ubisoft’s new Star Wars game was introduced at the very end. And then right away with the first gameplay there is to see of Star Wars: Outlaws . We follow the protagonist Kay Vess, who enriches herself as an outlaw at the dark empire. During a sneak and fight mission on Imperial territory, she is helped by a cute alien pet named Nix.
As the bandit’s cover is inevitably blown, Star Wars: Outlaws turns into a third-person shooter. On her escape, Kay first swings out of the field of fire by rope, and then onto a hoverbike to traverse the large open world. Arriving at a base, we learn a little more about the heroine’s background and relationships.
After some dialogue, Kay Vess climbs into her spaceship and leaves the planet almost seamlessly (with a well-concealed loading sequence) to engage in some dogfights with Tie Fighters in space. From there, the game promises a great Star Wars sandbox from an outlaw’s point of view.
You can watch the gameplay trailer for yourself here:
What else was there
- The beta launch of the mobile game AC: Codename Jade has also been announced, for which interested parties can register now at Ubisoft .
- The creator of Captain Laserhawk unveiled his new anime series based on Ubisoft brands, which will be released on Netflix in autumn 2023.
- A musical interlude to Skull & Bones created a pirate atmosphere in between. However, that was the only sign of life.
- There was a new trailer of The Division: Resurgence to see, the upcoming mobile spin-off of the well-known loot shooter brand.
- A cinematic trailer for Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR briefly introduced the new VR spin-off. Here you can see it:
The Ubisoft Forward marks the finale of a hot E3 period – and no E3 at all!
The Summer Game Fest featured numerous shows and events with hundreds of trailers, new announcements and much more.
Which game has excited you the most so far? Were there any surprises or disappointments? Just let us know in the comments – we’re looking forward to your feedback!
