Ghost Recon Breakpoint is free to play this weekend on PC and consoles
Includes Immersive Mode and Splinter Cell crossover.
Ubisoft's much-maligned online tactical shooter Ghost Recon Breakpoint is free to try this weekend on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, giving curious players the chance to put the game's significant "Immersive Mode" overhaul through its paces.
Breakpoint wasn't, of course, particularly well-received at launch, with Eurogamer contributor Vikki Blake calling it a "half-baked hotchpotch of magpie'd ideas that neither function properly nor mesh" in her review, and "a broken, swirling vortex of recycled Ubisoft mechanics stamped across a dismal, forgettable world."
Despite the poor critical reception and lower-than-expected sales, Ubisoft has stuck with Breakpoint since its release, issuing fixes and improvements that culminated yesterday, with the arrival of the game's long-awaited Ghost Experience update.
This introduces a much-touted new Immersive Mode, one of three possible play options, alongside the original experience and a highly customisable variant.
It's intended to"bring back the tactical, authentic spec ops feeling that players want from Ghost Recon" and, to that end, removes gear levels and tiered loot, and features partial health regeneration, limited resources, and a minimal interface.
Those curious to know whether these latest changes are enough to mitigate Ghost Recon Breakpoint's initial launch flaws can check out the game for free from tomorrow, 25th March, until Monday, 30th March. It'll also be possible to play through the first mission of Breakpoint's new Splinter-Cell-inspired Dead State story campaign.
PlayStation Plus is required to participate in the free weekend via the PlayStation Store (as is Xbox Live Gold on Xbox One), and PC players have the option to download the game through either the Ubisoft or Epic Games Store. There's also 70% off the full experience, should anyone be sufficiently smitten to contemplate a purchase.