Ubisoft has long offered up some of the most expansive press conferences and showcases -- with its E3 2021 Ubisoft Forward event being no different, even in digital-only form. Although it might have lacked the punch of a brand-new Assassin’s Creed reveal, alongside a few notable titles Missing In Action (Beyond Good & Evil 2, Skull & Bones), we did get a big Rainbow Six Extraction reveal. Plus, a brand-new Mario + Rabbids -- though Nintendo kind of spoiled the party there by putting up the store-page last night.

Alongside co-op Aliens v Operators we also got a new cinematic look at Ubisoft’s other big game for 2021 -- Far Cry 6. Plus, a surprisingly impressive Avatar game being built for next-gen consoles coming in 2022. That is, an experience set in 2009’s blockbuster sci-fi epic from James Cameron.

Let's get to it.

Rainbow Six Extraction

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It’s almost redundant at this point to compare a co-op shooter to Left 4 Dead -- the genre is basically a thing unto itself. Now that the proverbial lid has been lifted on Rainbow Six Extraction -- Ubisoft’s “tactical co-op PvE experience” set in the same universe as the popular Rainbow Six Siege -- we get to see just what a co-op shooter looks like Tom Clancy-ified. And the results are very cool, we love how both the Operators and the strange alien creatures add a distinct flavour to the action. We had the chance to go hands-on and speak with the game’s director ahead of Ubisoft Forward too -- so head here to check out that coverage.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

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Released back in 2009 Avatar went on to smash all global box office records and usher in the dawn of the age of 3D cinema. Fast forward to today and 3D cinema is all but a fad and Avatar is not really a presence in pop culture. That said, director James Cameron is finally preparing to release a string of sequels -- with Ubisoft and the talented folk at Massive (The Division) set to bring a new open-world action-adventure set on the alien planet of Pandora to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC next year. As per the trailer it looks impressive, and Pandora is the sort of prime locale for a vast and diverse open-world. Going first-person is an interesting approach, and we can’t wait to see an unedited slice of gameplay for this one.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope

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Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is the unexpected sequel to the unexpected Ubisoft and Nintendo collaboration that presented the premise of a “what if Mario and Rabbids dis a crossover, but as a turn-based strategy game?”. It was great so getting to see a sequel come together so quickly is very cool news. Speaking of cool, with its cosmic setting this looks to add a dose of the brilliant Super Mario Galaxy into the mix.

Riders Republic

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From the team behind the underrated Steep, Rider's Republic looks to be the Forza Horizon of the action sports world. With multiple ways to ride -- mountain bikes, snowboards, skis, wingsuits and rocket-powered versions of these, there’s a vibrant and colourful presentation that is super-inviting in Republic. From racing to various competitive modes to freestyle play and just being able to explore locations based on some of the most impressive landmasses and natural parks found in the United States -- there’s a lot. And it’s out in September.

Far Cry 6

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Far Cry 6 got its big reveal ahead of E3, and for that we got to see the fictional nation of Yara and its peoples' struggles in full. Alongside the game’s menacing new villain, Giancarlo Esposito as the ruthless Anton Castillo. Which is exactly what this new cinematic is all about -- a very tense look at Anton and his men discovering a group of people simply looking to escape oppression. Far Cry 6 is out this October 7 and if you haven’t read it already -- be sure to check out our massive in-depth preview and developer interview for everything you need to know.

Rocksmith+

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More of a software tool than a game, Rocksmith+ builds on the foundation of the original using innovative and engaging ways to teach people how to play the guitar. Rocksmith+ will be available as a subscription service via the Ubisoft Store on PC soon with the price set at $24.95 AUD for 1-month, $59.95 AUD for 3-months, or $149.95 AUD for 12-months. It’s also headed to Xbox and PlayStation later this year.

Watch Dogs: Legion - Bloodline

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Bloodline sees the arrival of Aiden Pearce, the protagonist from the first Watch Dogs, in a new narrative-driven bit of DLC set before the events of Watch Dogs: Legion. This is a weird one in that Aiden Pearce is a bit of blank mixed with a slice of meh; an uninteresting character from a game that only reached its full potential in its sequel and with a new protagonist. So, it's a good thing that Watch Dog 2’s Wrench is also featured. Bloodline is part of the Season Pass and launches July 6.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla - The Siege of Paris

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According to Ubi, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is the best-selling Creed to date, and with that its post-launch support is set to continue for some time to come. With the recent release of the first expansion Wrath of the Druids, today comes a look at The Siege of Paris. Which as per the title presents one of the biggest slices of Viking warfare as recorded in the ol’ books of history. Taking place in France, this one looks to be bigger than the Druidian jaunt we got, and with that we’re keen to get our viking back on when it drops this winter. And speaking of history we also got confirmation that the popular Discovery Mode is coming soon - Discovery Tour – Viking Age is set to be another great tool for students and history buffs alike.

Watch The Full Ubisoft Forward 2021 Presentation Here

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That’s all of the major stuff from Ubisoft this year, but there’s a lot more found in the surprisingly chunky presentation and pre-show. From continued support for The Crew 2 and For Honor through to the latest in Just Dance dancing -- and a few TV and film thingies.

Check it out.