Ubisoft Confirms New Ghost Recon in Development and Shadow-Drops Massive Wildlands Next-Gen Update

Ubisoft has confirmed a new Ghost Recon game is in active development alongside a surprise next-gen update for 2017's Ghost Recon Wildlands, the publisher announced on Tuesday. It is a dual strategy that celebrates the franchise's 25th anniversary by asking players to simultaneously look forward to an unreleased future and backward to a seven-year-old deployment.

According to the publisher, development on the next mainline tactical shooter is officially underway, though specific details regarding its title, setting, or release window remain under wraps. To bridge the gap, the studio is introducing the 'Ghost Recon Insider Program,' a closed community testing initiative designed to gather feedback during production. It is a move akin to showing the blueprints to the homeowners before the first brick is laid, letting the community test-drive early builds of what comes next.

But while the next entry sits in the incubator, Ubisoft is dusting off the archives. To mark a quarter-century of tactical stealth, the publisher shadow-dropped the free 'Last Rites' update for Ghost Recon Wildlands. For a game that spent the last several years settled comfortably in the backlog, the sudden attention is like finding an old winter coat in the closet, only to discover it has been professionally dry-cleaned and fitted with haptic feedback.

The details

• New game status: Active development, with closed testing via the Ghost Recon Insider Program.
• Wildlands update: "Last Rites" (free, available now).
• Performance: Native 4K resolution at 60 frames per second on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
• Features: DualSense haptic feedback and 3D audio support on compatible platforms.
• Content: A new linear story mission ("Last Rites") and the return of crossover Predator content removed in 2020.

What is in the Wildlands update?

The surprise patch is more than a simple resolution bump. The 'Last Rites' update modernizes the 2017 shooter to match current hardware standards, introducing native 4K resolution at 60 frames per second across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. On compatible setups, players will also find DualSense haptic feedback and 3D audio support, bringing a bit of modern sensory tension to Bolivia's forests.

The update also adds actual work for players to do. A new linear story mission, also titled 'Last Rites,' offers a fresh tactical scenario. Furthermore, in a rare reversal of licensing expirations, the patch restores the crossover Predator content that was originally removed from the game in 2020. It seems the hunter has returned to the jungle, sparing players the need to dig up old video archives to remember the crossover.

How does the future look?

By inviting players back to Wildlands, Ubisoft is keeping the seat warm for its next project. The newly announced Ghost Recon Insider Program suggests a shift toward community-led refinement, offering closed testing phases to help shape the upcoming title. After the mixed reception of 2019's Ghost Recon Breakpoint, bringing players into the fold early represents a highly deliberate course correction. Rather than launching a finished product and adjusting the sails afterward, the studio is choosing to hand over the map during the planning phase.

Why it matters

Giving a seven-year-old game a comprehensive current-gen facelift is an unusual move in an industry where older live-service titles are routinely left to gather dust. For Ubisoft, upgrading Wildlands serves two purposes: it rewards a highly active, nostalgic player base while buying time for the next installment. By aligning the classic gameplay of Wildlands with modern technical standards, the studio keeps the franchise's core identity fresh in the minds of players who will eventually test its successor.