Returning to old games isn’t always easy. Depending on how old the game is, you might run into various problems, including unusual controls or compatibility issues. Another common point of friction you might encounter is an older game running poorly. This can make it a slog to replay some of the modern classics, even if they’re just a decade or so old. So I’m happy to see Ubisoft going back and updating performance in games like Far Cry Primal and Assassin’s Creed Unity.
Over the weekend, Ubisoft announced that Far Cry 3 Classic is getting an update on January 21 that will let it run at a smoother, higher 60FPS on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. It’s a free patch and, assuming nothing breaks, it should just work once players have updated the remastered version of the tropical shooter. Later, on January 19, Ubisoft announced that Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon Classic Edition is also getting a 60FPS patch on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. And then, on Tuesday, Ubisoft revealed that Far Cry Primal, the primitive-era caveman spin-off, is getting a 60FPS patch for those same platforms. Both of these are landing on January 21, too.
Updating three older PS4-era games for free to add in performance improvements on newer consoles is cool enough. But Ubisoft has actually been doing this for a bit now. In December 2025, Ubisoft updated the OG Division on PS5 to unlock 60FPS. Last year, Ubisoft updated Far Cry 4 for current-gen machines, and now it runs like butter at 60FPS. In 2024, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate got a nifty 60FPS patch for free as well. And the year before that, Far Cry 5 got a 60FPS patch for Xbox Series X/S and PS5.
Ubisoft doesn’t have to do this. A lot of publishers don’t do this, which you can tell by all the people in the comments below Ubisoft’s announcements begging for similar updates to other games from other companies. And look, sometimes, it’s not an option. Some games are built around 30FPS and updating them is very tricky or too resource intensive. It’s not impossible, though. Just look at fan updates to Bloodborne.
Still, if you can update an older game without too much trouble to get it running at 60FPS or higher, I think it’s a smart move. From a business point of view, Ubisoft can now continue to market these older games and likely sell new copies. And with a Far Cry TV show in the works at FX, Ubisoft has already ensured that if the show is a hit, people coming back to the older games it was inspired by will find a 60FPS experience that matches many of today’s games.
Meanwhile, for me, these updates make it more likely that I’ll return to one of these classic Ubisoft games in the future if I feel the urge to stab people in the throat. Which franchise am I talking about? Either. Both. My point is that I’m a bit of a performance snob when it comes to games, and returning to the choppy 30FPS era of the PS4 and late Xbox 360 is always painful for my eyes and never feels great. Emulation isn’t really a solution either, as PS4 emulation is currently still in its early stages and not nearly as robust as what you’ll find in modern PS2 or PS3 emulators.
So it’s very helpful that Ubisoft is going back and doing the work to get its back catalog of PS4-era games, including some bangers like Far Cry 4, running at 60FPS. I mean, I don’t really need more games to add to my damn backlog, but still, thanks.
