Call of Juarez series goes modern in 'The Cartel'

by JC Fletcher on Feb 7th 2011 12:18PM

Ubisoft has just unveiled the next game in the Call of Juarez series, called Call of Juarez: The Cartel, for "next-gen consoles and Windows PC." While the last two games in the series were Old West-themed, developer Techland is actually setting this game in present-day LA and Juarez -- the new setting means that Juarez will just be able to leave you voice mail if you aren't around. "The game will bring the best elements of the Wild West into modern times with a very gritty and relevant plot," said Ubi director of marketing Adam Novickas in the announcement.

You'll be able to find out more about The Cartel in the March issue of EGM, and you'll be able to play it this summer. For now, call upon our gallery for the first screens.

Call of Juarez: The Cartel

Show full PR text

SAN FRANCISCO – February 7, 2011 – Today Ubisoft announced the development of Call of Juarez® The Cartel, the third game in the award-winning Call of Juarez series. Developed by Techland® for next-gen consoles and Windows PC, Call of Juarez: The Cartel will be available worldwide Summer 2011.

Call of Juarez: The Cartel is set in present day and brings the best elements of the Wild West to a new and modern setting. As a first person shooter with an immersive and mature story, players can expect to embark on a journey like no other – one that will take them from the heart of modern day Los Angeles, California to Juarez, Mexico.

"Call of Juarez: The Cartel is an action-packed shooter game with a strong story, interesting characters and a wide variety of gameplay options," said Adam Novickas, director of marketing at Ubisoft. "The game will bring the best elements of the Wild West into modern times with a very gritty and relevant plot."

Call of Juarez: The Cartel is featured in an exclusive first look in the March issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly, available on newsstands in North America on February 9, 2011.

For ongoing updates about the game, please visit: www.callofjuarez.com

Tags: call-of-juarez, call-of-juarez-the-cartel, microsoft, pc, playstation, ps3, release-date, summer-2011, xbox

Reader Comments (58)

Wait, are they STILL calling this gen Next-gen? Seriously? Lol

@xFenixKnightx
Damn, I though they meant Xbox3/PS4 cheeky bastards got my hope up!

@xFenixKnightx After 2007 it became pretty obvious that "next-gen" means "brown+bloom". Note how Viva Pinata wasn't called next-gen even when it was.

@xFenixKnightx

After that it'll be Nexter-gen

lol ... when keeping it real goes wrong?

@refinedsugar

when did it go wrong? it was just announced

@refinedsugar
I agree, looks terrible. These games worked because they were a member of the sparse western genre. Put against other same-day shooters and it will fail miserably.

@vidjagamer

Because "same-day" (whatever that means) shooters have taken into the War on Drugs in Los Angeles and northern Mexico? I don't think you know what you're saying. I mean, maybe a Clancy game might have touched a little on it, but I don't think so.

@Assmar
My point was that these mediocre games sold because of the "way out west" / Civil War shtick. Leave that behind and they may not do so well.

@vidjagamer

So when exactly did your point change from "will fail miserably" to "may not do so well?"

Cowboys in modern times. Interest piqued

@HybridPara

They should do this for the next Red Dead... oh, wait...

@HybridPara I feel a Walker Texas Ranger pun coming on.

...

Why are they referring to the consoles as "next gen?" They haven't been next gen for a few years....unless this is a surprise announcement of the 360, PS3, etc. successors?! (O.O)

The chic looks like Halle Berry.

@Revving Injuns She is willing to go to any means necessary to get her kid back. This time with bullets and blood!

@Revving Injuns Halle Berry you say? Day 1 buy o_O

I foresee controversy over this one.

For those of you not familiar with the current situation in Mexico, hundreds upon hundreds of innocent people have died in recent years due to violence between gangs and drug cartels.

@slickie Juarez is the city where most of the bloodshed takes place as well. Let's hope they make it as realistic as possible. I love games like this...looks lovingly at Far Cry 2.

@slickie Hundreds? More like tens of thousands. In the past 5 years around 30,000 people have been killed in the Mexican drug war.

@slickie Over 60 million died in WWII

Very interested in modern day Juarez. Nightmarish real world possibilities abound.

So this means I can ride a horse with an AK47 and a cheap hooker on board??!!!

hell frakking yes...first day buy

this game series seems underrated to me. I've played both and enjoyed them.

@Stuey1214

Agreed--especially about the second game.

Is it just me or do these character models look worse than the last game? They all look like they have marionette legs.

I can't help but think of the similarities in general direction with another "Call of" game (no relation, of course).

Should have just called it "Call of Juarez: Modern Cowboys." lol

The currently living major of Juarez will find great offense in this production.

Bad enough he only has a few days before he's gunned down on the toilet, now he has to worry about virtual vigilantes making a stink in what's left of the habitable areas of his city.

Ripped from the headlines!

I'm just going to go ahead and say it. That looks Saints Row.

Wasn't the whole point of Call of Juarez that it was set in the civil war era? I'm not sure how modernizing it is a benefit.

@Faceless Troll The first one was like, 25 years after the Civil War, and only the tutorial level of the sequel/prequel was in the Civil War. It was mostly just about Mexican Treasure and one of the bad guys was their former commander.

@TheDarkWayne Admittedly the second game was mediocre enough that I didn't really play past the tutorial level before I returned it.

It was a decent game.

@Faceless Troll

You should have kept with it. The second one was a pretty decent single-player experience.

@Brian Griffin
I only played the second Call of Juarez. Great game. Vastly superior to Red Dead Redemption, IMO.

Could barely stay awake with RDR :(

Sorry what?

Looks... alright.

I just really didn't expect the Juarez series to head in the direction. In fact, I didn't expect it to make it past Bound in Blood!

The Call of Juarez titles just always felt mediocre to me. If nothing else - I thought Techland would have shown something on Dead Island at this point. Or even Warhounds! How come Ubisoft just keeps throwing money at Techland for the Juarez titles?

This image is going to be used in a future Joystiq Podcast, 100%.

Fingers crossed for time-traveling-cowboy-drug-dealers!!!

Oh great. Call of Juarez: Modern Warfare. Screw you, Ubisoft, seriously.
They even changed the title font to a CoD lookalike.

@RedViv Does that really look like CoD to you? Really?

EGM still exists? I thought they ended a while back?

Bah. Way to ruin the coolest part of the game.

I know a lot of people hated this franchise, but the second game is *still* one of the best-looking games I've ever played: Western genre or not. The story wasn't too shabby towards the end, either.

@Brian Griffin Bound In Blood was a great game. It's one of those titles, that after I beat, it still lingers in my mind beckoning me to play it again.

I loved Bound in Blood. It was fun, had a cool story and characters, and sported some of the best environmental graphics I have seen in a game. The atmosphere of the game was amazing. I will give The Cartel a chance based on my love for the series. I just can't help feeling that they are playing off the 'Call Of' moniker a bit too much, with the modern setting, and even the new font looks like a rip off of that other game that uses it. Don't let me down, Techland!

I liked the first two games, Techland knows what they are doing so I think this one will be good as well. I am also glad to see that a character that strongly resembles Ray Mcall seems to have made it to modern times.

@Mr Esc is the namesarcasm is my

Regardless of the plots, I have to disagree with you that any of the Ubisoft games themselves you mentioned sucked, even a little bit. Well, except for the Rabbids.

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Call of Juarez: The Cartel

Call of Juarez series goes modern in 'The Cartel'

Call of Juarez: The Cartel

Reader Comments (58)

Posted: Feb 7th 2011 12:20PM xFenixKnightx said

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