Ubisoft outlines next-gen features of Assassin’s Creed, Watch Dogs, and more
In a new blog post, Ubisoft has outlined some of the technical features its existing and upcoming games will sport on the new generation of consoles.
The announcement covers eight games in total—some in much greater detail than others. Here’s a quick rundown of everything the publisher is promising for its next-gen experiences.
On Xbox Series X/S, Watch Dogs: Legion will feature hardware accelerated raytracing with real-time reflections and “massively reduced” loading times. The game will also support Xbox’s Smart Delivery program, meaning you can upgrade from an Xbox One copy to Xbox Series X/S at no additional cost. On PlayStation 5, Ubisoft is touting Legion‘s raytracing, Tempest 3D Audio, “dramatically reduced” loading times, and “hand-tuned” support for the DualSense controller’s adaptive triggers. Ubisoft is also offering free upgrades from PS4 to PS5.
Next up, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. On both manufacturers’ new consoles, Ubisoft is promising a 4K, 60 frames per second experience, as well as faster loading times. The PlayStation 5 version will additionally support Sony’s Tempest 3D Audio technology. Like with Legion, both platforms will also offer players free upgrades from current-gen to next-gen within the same family, whether through Xbox Smart Delivery or Ubisoft’s own program.
On Xbox Series X, Immortals Fenyx Rising will support 4K, 60 FPS visuals with High Dynamic Range support, as well as faster load times and optional Dolby Atmos and spatial audio. On PS5, Ubisoft calls out Immortals‘ support for 4K, 60 FPS graphics with HDR, fast loading times, Tempest 3D Audio, and DualSense’s advanced haptic feedback. Both platforms will offer free cross-gen upgrades within the same family.
At the moment, Ubisoft is only promising that Far Cry 6 will support 4K, 60 FPS visuals and free upgrades on both new platforms.
Riders Republic, Ubisoft’s massively multiplayer extreme sports game out in February, will support 4K, 60 FPS graphics with HDR—as well as faster load times and free upgrades—on both Xbox Series X and PS5. Interestingly, the description of the Xbox version calls out the ability to play multiplayer cross-gen between Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One, but the PS5 description doesn’t. It’s unclear if the omission is intentional, or if, for example, Ubisoft can’t yet confirm it’ll work that way on PlayStation platforms.
For Just Dance 2021, Ubisoft has chosen only to highlight the free upgrades from Xbox One to Xbox Series X/S, as well as backwards compatible support to play the PS4 version on PS5. (This may mean you won’t be able to witness the zany, brightly colored dancing in 4K at 60 FPS, unfortunately.)
Finally, Ubisoft rounded out the list with two already-released games that will be getting next-gen upgrades. Rainbow Six Siege will support 4K at 120 FPS on both Series X and PS5, and free upgrades within the same family. For Honor will only run through backward compatibility, but it’ll nevertheless support 4K resolution on both Series X and PS5 starting from each console’s respective launch day. A patch adding support for 60 FPS will arrive in “early December.”
The Xbox Series X and S launch on November 10th, while the PlayStation 5 launches November 12th.
Watch Dogs: Legion and Assassins Creed Valhalla will be available on next-gen consoles at launch. Just Dance 2021 hits the new Xbox and PlayStation November 24th. Far Cry 6 arrives on February 18th, 2021, followed shortly after on February 25th by Riders Republic. The next-gen version of Rainbow Six Siege has not yet been dated, but it’s expected before year’s end.
