The gaming world is abuzz with reports that the next installment in the Ghost Recon franchise will utilize Unreal Engine, potentially marking a significant technological departure for the long-running tactical shooter series. This move would end Ubisoft's years-long tradition of relying on proprietary engines for its Ghost Recon titles.

Since its debut in the early 2000s, the Ghost Recon franchise has predominantly used in-house technology, with only brief exceptions during the sixth console generation. Notably, some versions of Ghost Recon 2 and GR Advanced Warfighter employed modified Unreal Engine 2 builds, though their PC counterparts stuck with Ubisoft's proprietary solutions. Subsequent entries like Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, GR Phantoms, Wildlands, and Breakpoint all utilized Ubisoft's own engines - LEAD and various iterations of AnvilNext.

Industry insider Tom Henderson of Insider Gaming recently revealed during a podcast that the Ghost Recon Breakpoint successor is "going to Unreal Engine." While the exact reasons behind this strategic shift remain unclear, Henderson confirmed the project will leverage Unreal Engine 5's capabilities, potentially offering improved visuals and performance over previous AnvilNext-powered entries.

With Unreal Engine 5.6 launching in June 2025 (as demonstrated by CD Projekt Red's impressive Witcher 4 tech demo), questions arise about which version Ubisoft will implement. Given typical AAA development cycles, the new Ghost Recon likely won't use the absolute latest iteration. Engine updates often introduce compatibility challenges affecting rendering, physics, animation systems, and third-party tools - particularly problematic for large-scale projects with complex pipelines like a modern Ghost Recon title.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot officially confirmed a new Ghost Recon is in development during a July shareholder meeting. Transitioning to Unreal Engine offers clear advantages in talent recruitment, as Epic's widely-used technology means Ubisoft can more easily find experienced developers familiar with the platform, potentially streamlining production.