Far Cry: New Dawn will serve as a direct sequel to Far Cry 5. Fans should expect to see some familiar faces, but the world itself will have changed. The nuclear apocalypse dubbed The Collapse came to Montana, leaving mutated animals and a devastated society in its wake. Some fans worried that the game would be too similar to the previous installment in terms of its mechanics and setting. Earlier today, Ubisoft put those fears to rest.

On Twitter, creative director Jean-Sebastien Decant posted a video with details about the game’s features. His comments indicate that Ubisoft put a considerable amount of time and effort into making Far Cry: New Dawn a unique experience.

Today's Developer Q&A features #FarCryNewDawn creative director Jean-Sebastien Decant! @Battlesand from Twitter asked us "What game mechanics changed over Far Cry 5?" pic.twitter.com/TqhogYJhvf

— Far Cry (@FarCrygame) January 21, 2019

“We pushed what we call the ‘light RPG’ approach in the game to create more depth,” Decant said. “So you’ll be able to craft guns that have ranks, and these ranks, they will be useful to fight against enemies that also have ranks.”

Ubisoft has enhanced not only the game’s weapon system, but the methods in which players obtain them. Players will utilize a central base in order to strengthen both their forces and arsenal. Decant explained it in clear terms. “We have the brand-new Prosperity Home Base in which you will be able to rally your characters and invest in order to get better upgrades.” 

In addition to the upgrading system, Far Cry: New Dawn offers an “escalation system” for outposts. Players can control the settlement or “squeeze” the outpost, which means the enemy will return stronger than ever before. That means taking the base a second time should result in more resources and XP, though Decant did not specify rewards.

One major complaint regarding the Far Cry franchise is that it requires little strategy. Most players approach with stealth and do what they can until they are spotted. Then all hell breaks loose until they capture an outpost or die and try again. The new systems should instill a bit more planning into attacks, as well as some decisions once a base falls. Combined with the post-apocalyptic setting, these changes should turn New Dawn into one of the best titles in the franchise’s recent history.

Far Cry: New Dawn launches February 15 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Are you excited for Far Cry: New Dawn? What do you think of the new weapon and escalation systems? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! To stay up to speed on all things gaming, be sure to follow DFTG on Facebook and Twitter!

Thanks, PC Gamer.