Rumors have abounded about Far Cry 7 potentially experimenting with the series’ formula. Most online discussion has centered on the notion of Far Cry 7‘s possible time limit—a rumor that hasn’t gone over well with many fans. Whether Far Cry 7 actually adopts such a feature remains to be seen, but there may be an even more meaningful way to shake up the series’ modus operandi.
Far Cry Primal is among the greatest oddities in the Far Cry portfolio, sitting right up there with Far Cry: Blood Dragon as one of the franchise’s more bold creative decisions. Rather than taking place in the modern day, giving players access to all manner of firearms, vehicles, and other contemporary tools, Primal is set in the distant past, putting players in the role of a prehistoric human, barely scraping by with what they can harvest from the world around them. It’s an interesting take on the sprawling open-world staples of Far Cry, even if it’s not the most beloved entry in the series. But the game was greatly enhanced with one post-launch feature that should see its return in Far Cry 7.
Far Cry 7 Could Use Far Cry Primal’s Survivor Mode
Far Cry Primal’s Survivor Mode Is a Welcome Change of Pace
There are a number of ways to enhance Far Cry Primal‘s base game, including mods and a permadeath option that makes the game considerably more punishing. But among its best game-altering options is Survivor mode, which arrived a few months after its initial release and introduces a number of new mechanics, including:
- A survival meter replenished by sleeping and eating
- Permadeath for animal companions
- A lower carry limit
- Less resources
- No minimap
- Longer crafting times
In a nutshell, Survivor Mode makes Far Cry Primal much more challenging, but its value goes beyond simple difficulty. For those seeking a more immersive and unique spin on vanilla Far Cry, these gameplay modifiers have a transformative and meaningful impact on just about every aspect of the experience. Rather than being a no-holds-barred sandbox, Primal can be turned into a tense survival game, which is incredibly fitting, considering its prehistoric premise. If Ubisoft is planning on taking dramatic steps with Far Cry 7 via features like a time limit, then it should also be prepared to reprise this system, doubling down on immersion and realism.
Why a Survivor Mode Could Enhance Far Cry 7
Having an option for a more intense Survivor Mode could have a number of benefits in Far Cry 7, especially when it comes to making the game more mechanically complex and engaging. For all their strengths, Far Cry games (especially post-FC3) can sometimes be a bit too simplistic, not offering much depth or opportunities for thoughtful gameplay. Of course, for players who simply want a bombastic playground to mess around in, this is no problem, but for those hoping that Far Cry 7 will be a breath of fresh air for the series, Survivor Mode could be a logical way to complement the base game’s mechanics.
Considering the mass fan pushback about
Far Cry 7
‘s rumored time limit system, something like Survivor Mode would probably need to be completely optional.
Naturally, a lot depends on the setting and overall premise of Far Cry 7, but some version of a Survivor Mode would mean that players would have to carefully consider their exploration, rather than just setting themselves loose on the map for mindless wandering. Such a system could reward players who are prepared while encouraging deeper engagement with systems like resource collection and crafting. These kinds of punishing gameplay systems were lauded in the still-beloved Far Cry 2, so there’s no reason to believe they wouldn’t work in Far Cry 7, albeit with modern tweaks here and there.
