During Ubisoft's E3 presentation on Saturday, the company showed off a bit more of Far Cry 6 and what is coming to the game after launch. Included in "what comes after" is a piece of DLC that is called "Become the Villain," and it allows players to step into the shoes of some of the Far Cry universe's most infamous villains. Joseph Seed from Far Cry 5, Pagan Min from Far Cry 4, and Vaas Montenegro from Far Cry 3 are all there. However, there is one particular character that is absent, which begs a very big question.
The Far Cry 6 DLC allows players to take on the role of the villains and presumably see some more of their backstory. Perhaps it might even show how they became the "big bads" players are familiar with. However, if that is the point of the DLC, then why aren't players also going to step into the shoes of Anton Castillo? From everything shown about the newest antagonist, he's certainly going to rival, if not surpass the other three in terms of personality and evil. It's also the first time Ubisoft has gotten such a big name to play the "bad guy." So why not have even more story around Anton in the "Become the Villain" DLC?
Ubisoft Still Hiding Far Cry 6 Secrets?
One possible answer to why Anton Castillo isn't featured in the Far Cry 6 villains DLC is that Ubisoft is just keeping it under wraps. While the game is on the way for later this fall, it's possible that the developer wants to offer some surprises when it launches. That would certainly be an interesting thing to spring on players, but also doesn't seem out of the question.
It would also be somewhat refreshing if Ubisoft decided to keep something that big under wraps. Giancarlo Esposito voicing even more content than what he'll do in the base game would be a nice surprise. If the company decided to hold something back about Far Cry 6, it could win some brownie points with the fan base.
Maybe The Far Cry 6 Villain Isn't A Villain
There is another reason why Anton Castillo isn't an announced playable character in Far Cry 6's villains DLC. What if he's not really a villain? Granted, from everything shown off so far, Castillo somehow not being the bad guy seems very unlikely. There's even a video of him giving the order to kill everyone on a boat. However, the line between good and evil is actually a complicated one in the real world, even if Far Cry makes it seem like that line doesn't exist.
Esposito himself has given several interviews since the game was announced where he's taken umbrage at being called the villain. He said the same during his appearance at the Summer Game Fest earlier this week. Most people have dismissed those kinds of comments as Esposito just getting into his character, and villains rarely consider themselves villains. That was one of the things that made Far Cry 4 especially so compelling. He didn't see himself as a bad guy, so much as someone who had to make sure and hold control of his country.
There are already some rather obvious similarities between Pagan Min and Anton Castillo. There is of course the fact that they are both seemingly heavy-handed dictators in the Far Cry universe. Both have some rather over-the-top personalities and both want to be loved by their people. Both Anton and Pagan are not people who don't care for others at all. That's especially obvious when looking at the relationship Esposito's character has with his son: It would be hard to say that it's a healthy relationship, considering what the elder Castillo does to people who cross him, but it appears Anton genuinely cares for his son.
Far Cry 6's Castillo Is No Joseph Seed
Villains have long been the central focus in the Far Cry games, and for the most part, they've all been irredeemable. However, none have had the kind of relationship Anton seems to have with Diego. There hasn't even been a kind of anchor to the world that this father and son combo has in Far Cry 6. That's not to say a family has never played a part in this series, and the father-son relationship in the upcoming title could be a direct juxtaposition to what the family dynamics were in Far Cry 5.
While Joseph Seed made his family members his underbosses in Far Cry 5, there was never any indication he really cared for his brothers and sister. The entire group seemed to be a bunch of sociopathic murderers who simply wanted to take over and/or end the world. The Seeds were a religious cult that didn't really care about anything other than being right. That doesn't appear to be the case with the Castillos. There appears to be more to Esposito's character than just wanton destruction and mayhem. That could leave room for a big twist.
From Villain To Hero In Far Cry 6?
Considering all the horrible things Esposito's character is expected to and already did in Far Cry 6, it's definitely a reach to think Anton Castillo might eventually become a good guy. However, there is one more reason to think that this story might be a bit deeper than some of the others. Ubisoft devs admitted politics play a part in the upcoming title. That could mean it's possible that Far Cry 6 will delve deep into a man who did some terrible things because he felt like he had to do them.
Granted, all of this is reading quite a bit into Castillo's exclusion from the Far Cry 6 villains DLC. It's a long shot for sure. However, Esposito seems to genuinely like his character in the upcoming game. That could simply be a byproduct of an actor wanting his character to have some more depth. It could also be a hint at what players are going to see when it eventually launches.
Far Cry 6 launches October 7 for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.