Ghost Recon Breakpoint didn't necessarily fare well on release critically or commercially at launch in June 2019. Ghost Recon: Breakpoint reviews noted that the title has issues establishing itself, failing to offer anything new to the pseudo-MilSim franchise with a penchant for eschewing realism for RPG-mechanics.
Yet Ubisoft Paris and Ubisoft San Francisco, much to their credit, didn't take the initial dour reactions of the audience as a sign that it should shelve support and move forward. Instead, Ubisoft began working in earnest to bring Ghost Recon Breakpoint to the level that fans of the series have expected, releasing multiple patches that brought further immersion into the title by way of leveling weaponry, a fully customizable HUD, and tie-ins to multiple Tom Clancy titles such as Rainbow Six Siege and Splinter Cell.
Ubisoft has just announced on Twitter that it is going to continue to bring new content to players throughout 2021. Ubisoft states that it is shaping the future content based on the feedback, and will be publishing a public roadmap to give players and fans an idea of when the new content will be arriving throughout the year.
By taking player feedback since the launch of the title, the shift of Ghost Recon Breakpoint, from its difficult release into the title that it is now, has been monumental. Ubisoft is clearly gearing up to provide additional content into the open-world island of Aurora, yet hauntings of the previous title remain.
There are only so many enemy strongholds that a player can enter and methodically clear until it begins to feel a bit stale, regardless of how realistically weapons operate or the player agency offered at every turn. Actions that Ghost Recon Wildlands similarly offered to players in spades, along with beautifully realized animations that highlighted South American art while noting how cartels can ensconce entire countries in violence.
This brings an important weight to the promised upcoming 2021 content of Ghost Recon Breakpoint, which has been varied in the past. The Darkest Night update brought almost absurdly dark environments in the late-evening that made NVGs necessary near dusk and dawn, while thermals ruled through the moonlight hours, blocked by a near-constant canopy. With Golem Island, a new raid-turned explorable location punctuated by elite enemies, an active volcano, and a slew of unique settlements with one of the most expansive additions in the form of free DLC.
There is a future where Ubisoft can manage to bring out content along the metaphorical vein of "Project Titan" within 2021, reinvigorating interest in the franchise in much the same way that "Operation Amber Sky" managed to. Ubisoft's unflagging dedication to the burgeoning franchise should help inspire consumer confidence in the next iteration alone; the incoming content is just the icing on the cake.
Ghost Recon Breakpoint is out now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.