One of the most underrated Ghost Recon games is getting a free next-gen update

One of the most underrated games in the Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon series is getting a long-awaited free new-gen update.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon series made its debut in 2001 and over the years, the tactical shooter that was seen somewhat as an alternative to Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six has had quite the transformation over the years, for better or worse. However, it’s been quite a few years since we’ve seen a new entry in the Ubisoft property.

For many, the Advanced Warfighter sub-series will always be the peak in the Ghost Recon franchise, and in many ways, the series will struggle to live up to those expectations, especially after fans' confidence was shattered with the last outing, 2019’s Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint.

Ghost Recon Wildlands is getting a free new-gen update

Before the release of Breakpoint, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands had a bit of a rocky launch, but it was fixed with updates. Yet, with Breakpoint being the next game after this, Wildlands kinda gets unfairly tarred with the same brush.

That being said, Ghost Recon Wildlands is getting a second chance, after details of a free new-gen update leaked on the PlayStation Store. Well, that leak has been confirmed to be true following a Ghost Recon 25th Anniversary Showcase.

The update, which goes live today on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, will boost the resolution to 4K at 60 frames-per-second. It will also have faster loading times thanks to the console's SSD.

What’s more, on PS5, it will take advantage of the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, as well as Tempest 3D AudioTech. No doubt, Xbox consoles will also have Dolby Atmos support.

READ MORE: New Ghost Recon officially confirmed by Ubisoft

That’s not all, because Ghost Recon Wildlands is also getting a free ‘Last Rites’ mission. “Return to a darker Bolivia to hunt La Llorona in a tense, free new mission. Experience enhanced gameplay with 60FPS, 4K graphics, quality-of-life updates, new cosmetics, and more,” reads the official description.

Finally, to celebrate the launch of the free new-gen update, Ghost Recon Wildlands will be free-to-play between August 6 and August 10, 2026.

What’s the story of Ghost Recon Wildlands?

“Lead your elite team of Ghosts through a massive, dangerous, and responsive open world as you infiltrate and destroy the deadly Santa Blanca cartel to save Bolivia and its people from total collapse,” reads the synopsis of the game.

Was Ghost Recon Wildlands well-received?

Not initially. On the aggregate website Metacritic, it scored just 70 from critics and 6.6 from users. But don’t let that put you off. A lot of these reviews would have been published around its original launch, which, as we alluded to earlier, wasn't the best launch, with the game troubled with glitches and server issues.

However, the weeks and months that followed, the developers at Ubisoft worked hard to right its wrongs, and Ghost Recon Wildlands eventually became a much better game. Hopefully, it will fare even better with the addition of this free new-gen update.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands is available on PC, PlayStation and Xbox.