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How It Works • Games & Tech

Far Cry

Far Cry is an anthology franchise of first-person shooter video games published by Ubisoft.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Far Cry is an anthology franchise of first-person shooter video games published by Ubisoft. The series began with *Far Cry* in 2004 and is known for open-world gameplay.

What it is

Far Cry is a first-person shooter franchise published by Ubisoft, featuring action-adventure elements and open-world environments. Each mainline entry is a standalone story set in a distinct location, from tropical islands to fictional nations.

How it started

The first *Far Cry* was developed by Crytek in 2004 to showcase its CryEngine technology. Ubisoft later acquired the rights and led most subsequent development, with Ubisoft Montreal—a major Canadian studio—playing a key role in the series' expansion.

Key features

The franchise is known for large open worlds, player freedom, and varied settings. It includes six mainline games, standalone expansions, and spin-offs. A film adaptation directed by Uwe Boll was released in 2008.

In short

  • First released in 2004, developed by Crytek.
  • Ubisoft acquired the franchise and led later entries.
  • Known for open-world, anthology-style storytelling.
  • Ubisoft Montreal, a Canadian studio, is a major developer.
Canadian angle

Ubisoft, the publisher of Far Cry, is headquartered in France but has major Canadian development operations, especially Ubisoft Montreal, which has helped develop much of the series.

Quick questions

What is Far Cry?
Far Cry is a video game franchise published by Ubisoft, centered on first-person shooter games with action-adventure elements.
Who made the first Far Cry game?
The first *Far Cry* was developed by Crytek and published by Ubisoft in 2004.
Is Far Cry an open-world series?
Yes. The franchise is widely described as featuring open-world gameplay.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_Cry
    Supports: Franchise description, publisher, first release, latest release, genre, later development by Ubisoft studios
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Far-Cry-electronic-game
    Supports: Original game details, release year, story overview, critical reception
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_Cry_(video_game)
    Supports: First game developer, publication, release date, original game setting and success
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_Cry_(disambiguation)
    Supports: Film adaptation and disambiguation context
  5. IGN — https://www.ign.com/articles/all-far-cry-games-in-order
    Supports: Series entry count and chronology context
  6. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Far-Cry-electronic-game
    Supports: Ubisoft as publisher and the game's significance