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E3 2015: Ubisoft Predictions, Rumors & Expectations

By Daniel George

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E3 2015 is almost upon us! This week, GameSided staffers will be discussing what we should see, think we’ll see or hope to see out of the eight (!) separate press conferences scheduled to go live starting early next week. Our up-to-date preview schedule: 

What an odd, turnaround year for Ubisoft. It was only E3 2014 where there was a sizable hubbub about the lack of a playable female assassin in the 4-player co-op title, Assassin’s Creed: Unity. It seems it only took the publishing giant one full year to learn how to program female animations for an assassin character, as one will be playable in their upcoming entry of the series. How else can Ubisoft improve? What exactly will be at their show this year? Will Mr. Caffeine make a reappearance? More importantly, will Ubisoft prominently showcase a new game that isn’t a sequel or a new entry in a pre-established franchise?

Things I’m sure we’ll see at the Ubisoft briefing

  • Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate Will Kick Off The Show, Will Feature Playable Female Character Prominently

Ubisoft has taken a lot of flack over the past year on a number of different issues. Whether it be downgrades in graphical output, odd messaging about female characters or releasing games efficiently broken and buggy at launch, they definitely have to get out in front with early statements. Seeing how Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate will feature a playable female assassin, I expect them to proudly show her off in action with a gameplay demo that screams, “Eh? Eh? Will you pretend like we didn’t put our feet in our own mouths last year?”

  • Tom Clancy’s The Division Will Get Yet Another Gameplay Demo, But With A Release Date This Time

The Division has been in the works at Ubisoft for so long that it will likely get its gameplay shown off for a third straight year. What made the game look so remarkable in the first place was that the first trailer came about half a year before “next-gen” consoles PS4 and Xbox One were to launch, and it absolutely looked the part. My biggest fear is that the little intricacies that made the first trailer dazzle will either be downgraded or won’t exist. I want door-closing tech re-confirmed, dammit!

Either way, I expect that Ubisoft will provide a definitive release date to qualm fears about another release date push beyond its current, vague Early 2016 release window.

  • Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege Open Beta “Available Right Now!”

Last year’s Ubisoft show-capper was the reveal of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege. Another title that got monumentally less flak for its representation of women – this time as the only gender for hostages – not only will we see Ubisoft show off a completely different scenario (I expect some explanations on their “deep replayability” selling point more clearly), but they will follow Battlefield Hardline’s steps and offer an open beta that is available at the conclusion of their media briefing. This is their 2015 Tom Clancy release; they will want to make sure they nail down online play.

  • Aisha Tyler Will Continue to Push #girlwood, Babble Cringeworthy Dialogue

I’m a big fan of Ms. Tyler. Whether it be on Archer, Friends, hosting Whose Line Is It Anyway? or in standup comedy, she’s a pretty funny lady who also happens to enjoy video games. Having her on board is a continually huge get for Ubisoft, considering the past performances of over-caffeinated fans of Wayne’s World and a hilarious (but for the wrong reasons) host who wished he could be anywhere else. That said, year in and year out Aisha Tyler’s worst performance always pours through in these Ubisoft conferences, although I’m willing to chalk it up to bad writing by whoever’s directing the show, on Ubisoft’s side.

Next: Sequels, Cinema and Other Ubisoft Predictions

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