If you’ve cracked a book, played a game, or gone to the movies over the past few decades, you’re probably familiar with Tom Clancy. Though he’s been gone since 2013, his name lives on through the entertainment properties he created. The next major game to bear his name is Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands, an open-world shooter from Ubisoft.
Since the game is nearing launch, we thought now would be a great time to look back at all the news, videos, and features we’ve devoted to the game to get you ready for its March 7 release date. You can also check out our Ghost Recon Wildlands preorder guide for more detailed information and resources on special editions and preorder bonuses.
Without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands.
The first time we got wind of a new game set in the Clancy-verse was at Ubisoft’s E3 2015 press conference. Ubisoft closed out the presentation by announcing Ghost Recon Wildlands and debuting a trailer that set up the game’s premise. It shows several versions of a mission in which a team of soldiers take out a drug lab. The key takeaway is that players have lots of leeway to decide how they want to approach each mission. It’s also clear that you need to be flexible, because things don’t always go as planned.
Shortly after that, we got a first-hand look at the game and were pleased to see that it breaks with many of the tropes you might expect to find in an Ubisoft open-world game. Things like towers are nowhere to be seen, which feels refreshing to anyone who’s spent time with the Assassin’s Creed or Far Cry series. Another useful feature is that your friends can drop in and out at any time. Overall, it feels like Ubisoft is stretching their creative muscles and trying new things in an open-world game.
That said, no change-up to a well-known brand like Ghost Recon comes without risk. In an interview, Ubisoft SVP of marketing and sales Tony Key told us, "Going into open world with Ghost Recon – it’s a risk. Will the fans of Ghost Recon appreciate that or will they not appreciate that? Our assumption is we’ll have a little bit of both. But we still have to make sure that we preserve what makes [it] Ghost Recon."
In February 2016, it came to light that Ubisoft had filed opposition for two of Electronic Arts’ trademark registrations for the word "Ghost". EA’s interest in the word springs from Ghost Games, the development team behind the recent Need for Speed titles. Ubisoft worried that the Ghost Recon franchise could "be damaged by registration of the mark."
As Polygon reported the following month, the two companies managed to resolve the issue amicably.
At DICE in February 2016, we got to hear Ubisoft VP of editorial Tommy Francois discuss how the company created the open worlds in The Division and Ghost Recon Wildlands. What it boils down to is thorough, first-hand research.
To that end, Francois said, Ubisoft sent a team to Bolivia, where Wildlands is set, and embedded them with "an elite unit in the Bolivian army." The goal was to get a feel for the terrain and learn enough to avoid any "cultural taboos." Francois said they spent a week in the jungle and actually "burned cocaine labs." Who says game development isn’t exciting?
Fans and collectors looking to splurge and spend more than the base price of $60 on Ghost Recon Wildlands will be well served when the game hits the shelves. Last year, Ubisoft unveiled the various collector editions that will be available when the game launches on March 7. First off, everyone who preorders the game will get a bonus mission called "The Peruvian Connection."
If you spring for the $70 Deluxe Edition, you’ll get a bonus "Deluxe Pack" that includes additional weapons and other in-game items. Next is the $100 Gold Edition, which comes with the Digital Deluxe pack, as well as a season pass that includes two expansions.
But if you’re really itching to put a dent in your wallet, you can buy the Collector version of any edition, which costs an extra $60 and includes a 10.5-inch Fallen Angel figurine and six posters.
Check out our Ghost Recon Wildlands preorder guide for more about preorder bonuses and special editions.
E3 2016 brought with it a slew of news regarding Ubisoft’s upcoming open-world shooter. Among the items was that Ghost Recon Wildlands will be released on March 7, 2017 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Also at E3 2016, we went hands-on with Wildlands, doing a deep dive into its open-world version of Bolivia. We found that it bears much similarity to GTA Online, what with its focus on small teams executing missions and making as clean a getaway as possible. You can read about how we did on one of the 100 missions that will come with the final game here.
In an effort to get people excited for the game, Ubisoft whipped up a 30-minute short film based in the world of Ghost Recon Wildlands. The film debuted on Twitch on February 16, but you can watch it for free on Amazon if you’re a Prime subscriber.
The movie centers on T.I., who plays a member of a drug cartel that’s trying to flush out a traitor. The end of the film plays directly into the beginning of the game, so watching it should set you up story-wise with everything you need to know going in.
In January, we took a closer look at the game to highlight some of the aspects you might not have heard about. Among our findings was that, thanks to its open-world multiplayer focus, it doesn’t feel like it fits in with the rest of the Ghost Recon series. In fact, it feels more like a Far Cry game, thanks to the level of freedom it offers, letting you complete missions in any order (and in any way) you want.
Ubisoft ran a couple of betas for Ghost Recon Wildlands, so we jotted down a few tips for playing the game for anyone who wanted a leg up. Even though the beta tests have run their course, the tips will also be useful when you play the full game.
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands launches March 7, 2017 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. March will be a busy month, but if you’re into multiplayer shooters, this is one to keep an eye on.
Chris Reed is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @_chrislreed.
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