It has been a turbulent time for Ubisoft, and it seems like that turbulence is spilling over into the next Ghost Recon game, as it has been reported that the upcoming “Project OVR” is in poor shape with a potential reboot or cancellation in the future. Ghost Recon has not had a new release since 2019’s Breakpoint, with the future of the series reportedly taking on a new shape following its recent third-person open-world entries.
The past couple of years have been something of a struggle for Ubisoft, as the publisher has closed a handful of studios amid notable flops and declining revenue from some of its biggest franchises, resulting in an operating loss of €1.3 billion this past year. Most recently, Ubisoft has shuttered its Winnipeg and Belgrade studios in an effort to cut costs, making them the seventh and eighth of Ubisoft’s studios in three years to suffer layoffs or get shut down entirely. However, as Ubisoft continues to try to find a stable footing, whispers of the next Ghost Recon game, codenamed “Project OVR,” have begun to circulate, reportedly returning the franchise to a first-person tactical experience.
Ubisoft is Developing a New First-Person Ghost Recon Game
In an unexpected development, Ubisoft reportedly confirms Ghost Recon’s rumored return to its first-person shooter roots in the next game.
Ghost Recon Project OVR Failed Internal Review, Leaving Its Future in Question
As reported by Insider Gaming, an internal memo distributed at Ubisoft stated that Ghost Recon‘s “Project OVR” has failed to meet internal objectives at the game’s current Alpha stage. Anonymous developers at Ubisoft have been contacted about why this is the case, and they have stated that Project OVR has been plagued by poor management and unrealistic deadlines, which have led to the game’s poor internal review. Ubisoft’s memo further states that executives Bruno Galet and Jean-Baptiste Duval have been brought in to lead and supervise work on the upcoming Ghost Recon project, in an effort to be more “hands-on” with the game going forward.
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Ubisoft’s current memo has worried developers, fearing that Project OVR might be subjected to a reboot or cancellation, or potentially worse for the studios involved. The aforementioned anonymous developers have further stated that various production plans for Ghost Recon were pitched to Ubisoft HQ following the game’s recent review, and it appears that the company’s higher-ups outright rejected all of them. Where the current direction of Project OVR is heading is anyone’s guess. However, the internal memo does say that Project OVR has a strong foundation, so hopefully, not all is lost in the current iteration of the game. What’s more, the teams at Ubisoft are bracing for further layoffs as a spree of “silent layoffs” has hit the Ghost Recon development studios in recent months.
It has already been close to seven years since the last Ghost Recon game was released, and it seems like the current issues with Project OVR might make the wait for the next game even longer. While Ghost Recon Breakpoint is a bit of an underrated gem among fans of the franchise now, Breakpoint had its share of controversies and criticisms that have turned off some shooter fans, potentially leading Ubisoft to rethink what it wants from the series. Depending on where Project OVR goes, this could be its chance to get those players back.
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In the meantime, Ubisoft still has a lot to get right with its upcoming game releases. Other leaks suggest that Far Cry 7 has new surprises for longtime fans of the franchise, and, of course, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is launching soon, and it seems like fans are excited to jump back into Edward Kenway’s world. The next year could be a turning point for Ubisoft, and hopefully, it will all go well.
