At launch, Ghost Recon Breakpoint received mixed reviews. The acting of Jon Bernthal was praised almost unanimously, but the gameplay, multiplayer, lack of ally AIs, and more were criticized by many. Perhaps the best way to describe the gameplay is a broken marriage between a Tactical Shooter and a Looter Shooter, as the former genre has fallen to the wayside in recent years.
Nonetheless, Ubisoft kept at it. Ghost Recon Breakpoint is a much different game in 2021 than it was in 2019, and while it may not have a No Man's Sky-level revival, its fanbase or those who wish to dip their toes in have been treated kindly by Ubisoft. In fact, the company's most recent roadmap shows a lot of promise, yet it might not quite be enough.
Ghost Recon Breakpoint DLC 2021
At the end of Spring, the Teammate Experience Update will release. This improves upon the AI allies in Ghost Recon Breakpoint, improving their overall quality and introducing some new features for them to boot. For single-player fans of the franchise, this is a great addition; for those who prefer the game with a squad of friends, at least the option is there. Then, to celebrate Tomb Raider's anniversary, there's an Easter Egg treasure hunt slated for the game, but nothing concrete was discussed about it.
This fall, the next Operation will come to Ghost Recon Breakpoint, with Ubisoft promising it to be the biggest yet. Given the success of Greenstone, Deep State, Red Patriot, and Amber Sky, this is big news for fans. It'll be interesting to see exactly what this Operation entails, but it's the lake at the end of the river. It's the big promise at the end, but overall, it's a promise.
The Future of Ghost Recon Breakpoint
Games that make big revivals need constant updates; No Man's Sky frequent updates is proof of that. The problem is, however, it seems Ghost Recon Breakpoint is slowing down. What it does offer is great, but it's very little. That seemingly signals that the end is in sight, especially when considering the variety of Ubisoft games currently in the pipeline. It's a huge company, but even with all of its studios, there's only so much it can do. This DLC is proof of that slowing down vibe, because as aforementioned, each has its own caveats.
The AI update is great for those who love the teammates, but it's something many argue comes across as too little, too late. The AI weren't there day one, and their inclusion was solid. This is just an improvement on that, and among the active fan base, it's mostly directed to SP lovers. The Tomb Raider Easter Egg, at the same time, could be something big or it could be something small. Without concrete details, even if it arrives later this year, it's not necessarily a big draw for every one playing Ghost Recon Breakpoint.
And, once again, the new operation is the big promise, but that promise comes with a wait. True enough, Fall 2021 may not look as sharp as most years due to the COVID pandemic, but if not timed right, this new DLC could be competing with shooters like the new Call of Duty, Battlefield 6, or Halo. That doesn't even factor in other games that could release this fall.
At the end of the day, it looks like a short-term goal stylized as a long-term plan. That's not a bad thing, but it's easy enough to see this as the final chapter of Ghost Recon Breakpoint. Hopefully, the game serves as a lesson for the next game, and it doesn't have to go through all of the same loops.
Ghost Recon Breakpoint is available now on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.