Summary
Ubisoft still hasn’t provided firm details about the next entry in its long-runningFar Cryfranchise, but early leaks suggest its story could be the perfect target for satire. According to rumors,Far Cry 7sees players traveling to the tropical island of Kimsan to free their family from a cult called the Sons of Truth. While cults are hardly a new theme for the franchise, having featured heavily in previous entries, it’s the protagonist’s familial wealth that opens the door to some potentially stinging satire.
Although having one’s family abducted by crazed cultists may not seem like the most obvious target for satire, in this instance the wealth of the kidnappees could provide fertile ground for pitch-black comedy. Seeing the ultrarich caught up in criminal conspiracies has long provided fodder for film and TV, with some games even getting in on the act, so there’s no reasonFar Cry 7’s storycouldn’t follow suit. But while such a story holds the potential to be both thought-provoking and darkly comedic, it could also prove to be deeply polarizing.
Far Cry 7’s Rumored Wealthy Kidnappees Could Provide Fertile Ground for Satire
Depending on howFar Cry 7’s wealthy familyis depicted, their ordeal could be a source of satire rather than just dramatic tension. This is evidenced by films likeKnives OutandParasite,which satirized the wealthy using stories centered around dark and violent criminal activities. Similarly, TV shows likeThe White Lotusseeminglyreveled in showing their ultrarich characters put through the wringer by forces beyond their control.
Film and TV are only one potential source of inspiration ifFar Cry 7chooses to satirize the protagonist’s reportedly wealthy family, with that same narrative ground having also been explored in gaming. From the depiction of Michael’s family inGrand Theft Auto 5as spoiled members of the idle rich to the nightmarish fate of the once-privileged people ofRapture inBioShock, games have tackled class division in numerous ways. That sort of storytelling inFar Cry 7may prove to be too controversial for Ubisoft, though.
Power and Privilege Could Be Topics Too Hot for Far Cry 7 to Handle
While a story centered around the powerful and privileged coming face-to-face with situations their immense wealth can’t save them from provides a seemingly perfect setup for satire, real-world rumblings over wealth inequality could make the topic too hot for Ubisoft to handle. Although the publisher hasn’t shied away from touching on real-world topics in theFar Cryfranchise in the past, it has typically avoided diving too deeply into contentious subjects. This wouldn’t mark the first timetheFar Cryfranchiseattempted to avoid controversy, either.
Just asFar Cry 5’s storynever fully explored the concept of homegrown violent extremism in the United States despite leaning heavily into it in the game’s marketing, the same could hold true forFar Cry 7. Providing the same sort of biting satire about the wealthy found in many recent media offerings would certainly show that Ubisoft is unafraid of trying something substantive withFar Cry 7’s story, but it could prove to be a risky move financially. In a time when views on the wealthy are often split along not only class lines but also political ones, Ubisoft could choose to sidestep this sort of satire altogether to protect its bottom line.
Its rumored focus on a wealthy family gettingcaptured by cultistsprovides plenty of potential forFar Cry 7to include some pointed commentary on power and privilege. Numerous franchises from across media show that, when handled well, this sort of satire can be not only entertaining but also engaging. Ultimately, Ubisoft may simply avoid tackling such a thorny subject head-on and, like it’s done in the past, use its real-world themes as little more than high concept set dressing for an otherwise straightforward shooter.
Far Cry 6
WHERE TO PLAY
Play as Dani Rojas, a local Yaran and become a guerrilla fighter to liberate the nation. Welcome to Yara, a tropical paradise frozen in time. Far Cry 6 immerses players into the adrenaline-filled world of a modern-day guerrilla revolution.
