Ubisoft is well known for its video game franchises, but they are no slouch in the world of literature either. Having worked with famous author Tom Clancy (on both games and books), as well as publishing many Assassin’s Creed tie-ins, the company is looking to expand the lore of their upcoming shooter Far Cry 5 before its release this February.
Titled Far Cry Absolution, the novel will be written by critically-acclaimed novelist Urban Waite (The Terror of the Living), taking place just before the events of the upcoming Far Cry 5 game, following local barkeep Mary May Fairgrave. After a presence of a fanatic cult (the Project at Eden’s Gate) begins to wash over the small town of Fall’s End, Montana, with authorities refusing to help, the bartender will take matters into her how hands to find out what happened to her parents and brother.
“Far Cry Absolution gives fans the opportunity to immerse themselves in Hope County and learn the backstory and motivations of members of the Resistance that will join them in the battle against the Project at Eden’s Gate,” said David Bedard, Product Manager. “Far Cry Absolution also provides insight on the cult’s methods, and offers a chilling window into the effects they have on the local population.”
Absolution’s author talked about how the world home to the Far Cry series allowed him to simultaneously tell stories outside of the norm, while still being very believable. He goes on to say that readers of the novel will have a greater insight into the characters of Far Cry 5 than they would have by simply playing the game.
It should be interesting to see what characters from the book will make it into the game, and vice versa. So far the only two characters we are aware of in the novel are Fairgrave and longtime cult member William Boyd.
Far Cry Absolution will be published by Ubisoft’s in-house publishing initiative and distributed by Simon & Schuster in the U.S. and Canada, in eBook, hardcover ($27.00) and mass market paperback ($9.99).