Though it’s not the most recent Ghost Recon game, everyone, including even Ubisoft apparently, knows Wildlands is the best in the series, so it’s become the domain of the Ghost Recon 25th-anniversary celebration, with a massive free update that’s out now.
The update includes a new mission starring a new villain, a visual overhaul on current-gen consoles, and hundreds of new free customization items. There’s more than that to it, so here’s everything to know.
Billed as the Last Rites update, Wildlands is now playable in 4K and 60 frames per second on current-gen platforms. The update is free, so you don’t need to buy the game on new platforms. If you own the previous version, you already have access and may just need to update your game.
The Last Rites update also adds a new mission–really a mission arc made up of several objectives, based on what I played–that pits the titular Ghosts against a mysterious new villain who has adopted the name of a local legend: La Llorona.
If you missed it before, the Predator crossover mission has returned too. The Predator mission debuted in 2017 but had been out of the game twice as long as it was ever in it before, being that it was delisted in 2020. But now it’s back, giving you a renewed chance to take on the famous hunter-alien from the movies.
Ubisoft also touted that hundreds of new cosmetic customization options are now in the game for free. These items include unreleased content, once-gated content, and more, giving you more ways to stand out, even as you’re really meant to blend in. If you’re a PlayStation Plus subscriber, you can also unlock some exclusive cosmetics inspired by the new villain herself.
If you don’t yet own Ghost Recon Wildlands, or its 2019 sequel Ghost Recon Breakpoint, both games are free to play all weekend starting today. They and the rest of the series will be on sale for up to 95% off in the days following the free weekend. The one exception is Ghost Recon Future Soldier, which you can actually claim for free on PC via Ubisoft Connect. This offer is available for one week.
At the time of its release, Breakpoint failed to keep Wildlands’ momentum and frustrated players with some design decisions such as a hamfisted gear-score system that was best left in Ubisoft’s other squad-based shooter series, The Division. But many updates later, it’s rounded into a decent follow-up, even as Wildlands remains the pinnacle of the series.
Breakpoint will be getting its own anniversary “bundle” in September, too, so it’s not like Wildlands is getting all the attention.
This is a lot of focus on the past and present of the Ghost Recon series, but if it’s the future you’re most mindful of, you can join the new Ghost Recon Insider Program, which will let players into closed playtests of the next Ghost Recon game, as Ubisoft has now announced it’s in development. There’s no name to share yet, but the team is inviting players to join the Insider Program and help shape the sequel.