Far Cry 5 is now much more playable on modern hardware, thanks to a performance patch released by Ubisoft to celebrate the game's fifth anniversary.
The update is available for Far Cry 5 right now, which means PS5 and Xbox Series X|S owners can enjoy 60fps performance in all game modes, including the single player campaign and multiplayer components. Even the game's map editor got a performance boost, which is a nice touch.
The update is likely to be a welcome one for many fans of the series. Especially those who were disappointed with the mediocre Far Cry 3 Classic Edition, and those who felt that Far Cry 6 didn't significantly evolve the franchise.
Far Cry 5 remains a divisive entry in the series, with many believing its setting in the heart of America to be a step back from the more exotic locales of the series' past.
The game's story was a bit wet, too, with a speechless protagonist and villains that couldn't match the impact left behind by Far Cry 3's Vaas Montenegro or Far Cry 4's gleefully megalomaniac Pagan Min. cry 3.
far from grace
While it's always nice to see games from an older generation getting free current-gen upgrades to breathe new life into them, I doubt many will jump at the chance to replay Far Cry 5 outside of its most loyal fans. While I personally thought Far Cry 6 was a step in the right direction thanks to its absurdly fun setting and special weapons, it also suffers from the same issues as Far Cry 5 before it, namely an overly large open world inundated with repetitive tasks. .
For the next game, I'd like to return to a more cohesive and meaningful open world. The survival elements of Far Cry 2, for example, while controversial, bestowed a gut-wrenching layer of vulnerability on your player character. Having to use pills to ward off the threat of malaria was scary and intense, especially in the middle of a firefight. It was a particularly hard game, where every victory seemed deserved and the rewards were strictly temporary.
There are definitely some fun elements to Far Cry's overt power fantasies. And Far Cry 5 in particular will play better than ever on PS5 and Xbox Series X thanks to its new performance patch. Although I hope that Ubisoft is planning a very different approach for its next Far Cry title. The one that makes you a prey, not a predator.
The good news is that Ubisoft may have already taken a hint here. Assassin's Creed Valhalla has streamlined the elements of its open world, reducing repetitive tasks and making loot found more meaningful. It's an approach that I think the next Far Cry game could benefit from greatly.