Ubisoft at E3 2012: What to Expect

Ubisoft E3 2011 presence was talked about, at least, with Mr Caffeine grabbing the attention. The publisher looked to take risks in 2011, releasing the hand-drawn and critically acclaimed Rayman Origins, and could unveil some unique titles at E3 2012's conference.

Far Cry 3

The sandbox first-person shooter is getting a third installment, and press previews described a game set on a tropical island, moving away from the jungle setting. A particular moments of the preview showed the protagonist encountering a scientist, only to be intoxicated by drugs.

In Far Cry style, the game will likely push the hardware of current generation consoles. It's unknown whether the game will launch on the Wii U; the title launches September 4, 2012 in North America and September 6, 2012 in Europe.

Assassin's Creed 3

Assassin's Creed: Revelations finished the Altair and Ezio story arc, and the third mainline entry in the franchise moves the setting forward to the American Revolution. The assassin is a native american who reportedly has no allegiance, and it's unknown whether Desmond will return.

New gameplay mechanics seemed to be based around stealth: players can seem to climb on trees and tie enemies to branches, while more modern weapons could be introduced. Leaked box art and pictures showed no Hidden Blade, which allowed players to perform silent assassinations.

Rayman Legends

Rayman Origins has been described as a long-term seller for Ubisoft as it's available on almost every platform, and the critical reception and relatively strong sales probably means the publisher is making a return on the five-man development team. Its sequel was leaked through a survey, posted on Kotaku, which showed varied environments and hinted at a time trial mode. A leaked trailer for the game since confirmed mini-game multiplayer modes including football, and the simple - yet entertaining - platforming established in Origins. The trailer also showed the Wii U, so Ubisoft could reveal the title for launch of the console.

Wii U Exclusives

Ubisoft produces a wealth of games for the Wii, though not all were as well received as Origins, and has said it will do so again. There's every chance the games will be based around the Wii U's tablet controller, and will therefore be exclusive to the platform.

Where, Where, How

Ubisoft's conference is the third of E3 2012, and the final of Monday, June 4. It begins 3PM PDT, taking place for an hour, at the Los Angeles Theatre.

The press conference can be viewed on YouTube, with the E3 Hub over at Uplay.