Just Cause 4 Info Thread

It seems Rico Rodriguez has met his match, and that’s not a phrase to be taken lightly. Avalanche’s leading man has toppled empires and defied the laws of physics on more than one occasion, but in Just Cause 4, he’ll be coming up against none other than Gabriela Morales, head of the Black Hand mercenary group and a certified badass.

She’s a character who looks set to rock Rico Rodriguez down to his very core, all the while exposing dark secrets about Rico’s father and his own ties to the Black Hand. Suffice it to say, Just Cause 4 is shaping up to be the most intimate and personal installment thus far, all the while retaining the gung-ho mayhem that fans know and love.

And so, in anticipation of Tuesday’s big launch, we’ve scoured the four corners of the Internet (and the PSLS archives!) to present to you everything you could possibly need to know about Avalanche’s sandbox, beginning with the character of Rico.

Let’s get to it, shall we?

Just Cause 4 brings the thunder onto PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on December 4th. Will you be taking the plunge?

Essential Reading:

Just Cause 4 – EYNTK

Ready to introduce a little anarchy?
What is Just Cause 4?

It's the fourth mainline instalment in the hit action series and one which ships our roguish anti-hero Rico Rodriguez off to Solís, a huge South American world home of "conflict, oppression and extreme weather conditions." Sounds charming!
What's the Story?

Said to be the most personal Just Cause game yet, Avalanche's sequel places Rico on a collision course with Gabriela Morales (more on that later), as the two square off under the sun-kissed skies of Solís. Oh, and to make matters worse, Rico is about to uncover the hidden truths about his father.

Via Avalanche:

"Spearhead the rebellion and defeat the Black Hand, a hi-tech private military organisation. Face off against Gabriela Morales – your most fierce, capable, and unpredictable adversary yet. Uncover the truth of Rico’s father’s past life on Solís’ and its extreme weather."
How Does it Play?

If you're at all familiar with the Just Cause series, you'll know that the laws of physics tend to go out the window when Rico's behind the wheel. Such is the case with Just Cause 4, which projects that signature style of gameplay (read: open-world mayhem) across the plains of Solís.
Welcome to Solís

Speaking of which, Solís is the fictional South American world in which Just Cause 4 takes place.

It's also an incredibly diverse landscape, filled with rainforests and grasslands and blistering deserts, all of which are displayed in this handy overview trailer.
Rico Rodriguez

You know him, of course; he's only the bleeding protagonist of the Just Cause series. But the fourth title hopes to dig a little deeper in that Rico discovers an inconvenient truth: his father worked with the Black Hand, the world's deadliest private army.

And so begins a deeply personal odyssey into the wilderness.
Meet Gabriela Morales

This journey ultimately leads our hero into the hands of Gabriela Morales, leader of the Black Hand and the only one capable of standing toe-to-toe with Rico. Cue the fireworks...
The Black Hand

If Gabriela Morales is the head of the snake, then the Black Hand is very much the intricate organization pulling the strings behind Solís. They're capable of blowing just about anything to kingdom come, thanks to their military-grade hardware. Then again, Rico isn't one to bring a knife to a gunfight.
A True Digital Playground

"If you can imagine it, you can do it."

That's the advice from Avalanche Studios going into the release of Just Cause 4, which really gives you an idea of the amount of player agency lying in wait.
The Best Sandbox Ever Made?

In the eyes of Game director Francesco Antolini, Just Cause 4 has a chance of becoming the best open world sandbox game, well, ever.

Here's what he had to say:

"We want to make the best open world sandbox ever. We want to be the sandbox that gives the biggest possibility for expression in an open world. We wanted to push our physics to the boundary, and we wanted to get back to a feeling of variety and discovery that I feel we lost a little bit with Just Cause 3."
Extreme Weather

Part of the reason why Just Cause graduated to the Apex game engine was to enable Avalanche to unleash extreme weather—be it blizzards, sandstorms, or tornadoes—upon the unsuspecting Rico. And the results are pretty spectacular.
Interactive Map

Eager to scope out Solís in all its glory? Look no further than this interactive map from Avalanche Studios.
Live-Action Shenanigans

Part of Avalanche's marketing campaign for Just Cause 4 involved the release of a stunning live-action trailer, along with a series of goofy videos themed after a different decade, beginning with the '60s.
The Apex Engine

Like we mentioned before, Just Cause 4 heralds the franchise's debut on Apex, and it shows. Granted, Avalanche has been quick to point out that the software upgrade enables smarter AI and refined gameplay, too.
The Making of Just Cause 4

Curious to know a little more about how Just Cause 4 was made? We've got you covered.
Story Trailer

Now that you've witnessed the dev journey, it's time to see the results.
Trophy List

The official Just Cause 4 trophy list was recently published, and yes, it's comprised of 34 accolades in total—one of which is that all-important Platinum.
Hands-On Preview

What's better than one hands-on preview from PSLS? Two, of course!

Here's one from E3 2018.

And a second from NYCC.
Day One Edition
Should you choose to preorder Just Cause 4 prior to release, you'll be entitled to the Day One Edition, which bundles together the full game with an add-on known as the Neon Racer Pack.
- Neon Racer Supercar: Blitz around in your very own modified supercar with boost valve on tap. You'll be the fastest thing in Solis!
- Neon Racer Wingsuit: Race across the skies with this unique neon design.
- Neon Racer Parachute: Drift over the clouds at speed with this unique neon design.
Our Final Verdict

The PSLS review of Just Cause 4 will go live at the beginning of next week, so stay tuned.