Ubisoft is celebrating 25 years of Ghost Recon by heading back to Bolivia, with Ghost Recon Wildlands receiving a surprise free update that adds a brand-new story mission, current-gen upgrades, and the return of its Predator crossover.

The Ghost Recon Wildlands: Last Rites update is available now across PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC, and introduces a standalone mission developed by Ubisoft Bordeaux.

Last Rites takes players into a darker corner of Wildlands’ version of Bolivia, where a fanatical cult known as Los Penitentes has taken control of the region. The Ghosts are tasked with hunting down the group’s leader, La Llorona, while making their way through swamps and dense forests designed to make visibility and navigation considerably more difficult.

Alongside the new mission, Ubisoft has also given Wildlands a technical overhaul on newer hardware.

The update introduces 60 FPS gameplay and improved visuals on current-gen consoles and PC, including better draw distances, upgraded lighting and shadows, and a sharper image targeting 4K resolution.

Players are also being given considerably more control over how Wildlands plays. New customisation options allow adjustments to enemy behaviour, damage, weapon restrictions, friendly fire, weather, difficulty settings, and HUD elements, letting players push the game closer towards either a hardcore tactical experience or something considerably more forgiving.

Perhaps even more unexpectedly, Ubisoft is also bringing back Wildlands’ Predator event.

The crossover originally launched in 2017 and saw players hunting the famous extraterrestrial killer in the Bolivian jungle before the event was later removed from the game. For Ghost Recon’s 25th anniversary, the Predator is back for another hunt.

“Ghost Recon wouldn’t be where it is today without the passion, dedication, and feedback of its community over the past 25 years,” said Ghost Recon creative director Olivier Leonardi.

“With Last Rites, we wanted to create an experience that honours that legacy — something that feels authentic to longtime Ghosts, celebrates what makes this franchise special, and reflects our appreciation for the players who have been with us every step of the way.”

Ubisoft is giving away Ghost Recon: Future Soldier

The anniversary celebrations extend beyond Wildlands.

Ghost Recon Wildlands and Ghost Recon Breakpoint are both free to play from August 6 until August 10, while PC players can permanently redeem Ghost Recon: Future Soldier through Ubisoft Connect between August 6 and August 13.

Future Soldier originally launched in 2012 and follows Kozak and Team Hunter in what was, at the time, a decidedly futuristic interpretation of military warfare.

A Ghost Recon Breakpoint 25th Anniversary Bundle is also planned for September and will include several free cosmetic items, including the M4A1 Tactical Brown, Wolf Enhanced Helmet, and Opheis Mk.II Hunter.

The next Ghost Recon is coming

Ubisoft also used the anniversary to acknowledge the future of the series.

Players can now apply to join the Ghost Recon Insider Program, which will give selected members of the community an opportunity to provide feedback and help shape the next Ghost Recon game.

Ubisoft hasn’t provided any substantial details about that project yet, but the launch of an official Insider Program makes it clear that another Ghost Recon is firmly on the way.

The original Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon launched in 2001 and helped establish the franchise’s reputation for tactical, squad-based military combat. Ubisoft says the series has now attracted more than 60 million players across its 25-year history.

NARAKA: BLADEPOINT players can now claim a new hero completely free as the battle royale’s fifth-anniversary celebrations continue.

NetEase Games and developer 24 Entertainment have added Ye Xiu, the protagonist of anime series The King’s Avatar, as part of the game’s latest collaboration. The character is available from July 30, 2026, and can be claimed by every player directly from their in-game mailbox without spending any money.

Players can also obtain a premium skin for Ye Xiu’s signature Kaleidoscope Parasol weapon for free by participating in a limited-time in-game event.

Ye Xiu joins NARAKA: BLADEPOINT for free

Rather than simply appearing as a cosmetic crossover character, Ye Xiu has been given a full set of abilities intended to reflect his tactical and adaptable fighting style in The King’s Avatar.

His combat kit focuses on rapid movement, counterattacks and flexible combo chains. He can deal area-of-effect damage against groups of opponents while also producing powerful single-target burst damage.

According to the developer, this combination makes Ye Xiu one of the game’s most versatile heroes, allowing him to move between different combat roles without suffering from any major weaknesses.

Players can see the new character in action through a cinematic trailer and a separate gameplay showcase released alongside the update.

Kaleidoscope Parasol is NARAKA’s first transforming weapon

The update also introduces the Kaleidoscope Parasol, the first weapon in NARAKA: BLADEPOINT capable of freely transforming between multiple forms during a fight.

Players can cycle between Parasol, Shield and Axe configurations depending on the situation. The Parasol form provides flexible offensive options, while the Shield can be used defensively and the Axe delivers heavier close-range attacks.

Being able to change forms in the middle of combat should allow players to react quickly to different opponents rather than committing to a single weapon style throughout an encounter.

The collaboration forms part of NARAKA: BLADEPOINT’s fifth-anniversary celebrations, with 24 Entertainment drawing parallels between Ye Xiu’s journey to reclaim his former glory and the studio’s efforts to establish Chinese martial arts within competitive gaming.

Ye Xiu is available to claim for free in NARAKA: BLADEPOINT from July 30, 2026