Jump to content

Watch Dogs

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Watch dogs)

This article is about the video game series. For the first game in the series, see Watch Dogs (video game). For other uses, see Watchdog.
Watch Dogs
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)Ubisoft
Platform(s)
First releaseWatch Dogs
27 May 2014
Latest releaseWatch Dogs: Legion
29 October 2020

Watch Dogs (stylized as WATCH_DOGS) is an action-adventure video game franchise published by Ubisoft, and developed primarily by its Montreal and Toronto studios using the Disrupt game engine.[1] The series' eponymous first title was released in 2014, and it has featured three games in total, the most recent being 2020's Watch Dogs: Legion. Several tie-in books and comic book miniseries set in the games' universe have also been published.

Gameplay in the Watch Dogs games focuses on an open world where the player can complete missions to progress an overall story, as well as engage in various side activities. The core gameplay consists of driving, shooting, and stealth segments, with occasional role-playing and puzzle elements. The Watch Dogs games are set in fictionalized versions of real-life cities, at various points in time, and follow different hacker protagonists who, while having different goals to achieve, find themselves involved with the criminal underworlds of their respective cities. The antagonists are usually corrupt companies, crime bosses, and rival hackers who take advantage of ctOS (central Operating System), a fictional computing network that connects every electronic device in a city together into a single system and stores personal information on most citizens. The player also has access to ctOS, which can be used to control various devices to assist them in combat, stealth, or solving puzzles.

The games have received generally positive reviews for their gameplay elements, mission structure, and world design, with criticism for frequent technical issues, while the narratives and characters have garnered mixed reactions. The series has been financially successful, with lifetime sales for the first two games exceeding 20 million units in total.[2]

Games

[edit]
Release timeline
2014Watch Dogs
Watch Dogs: Bad Blood
2015
2016Watch Dogs 2
2017
2018
2019
2020Watch Dogs: Legion
2021Watch Dogs: Legion - Bloodline

Watch Dogs (2014)

[edit]
Main article: Watch Dogs (video game)

Set within a fictionalized version of the Chicago metropolitan area in 2013, the first installment in the series follows gray hat hacker and vigilante Aiden Pearce's quest for revenge after the killing of his niece. The game's development began in 2009, with a budget of $68 million.[3][4] Watch Dogs was derived from a potential sequel from the Driver series which had been in development at Ubisoft Montreal coincident to Driver: San Francisco at Ubisoft Reflections and was released in 2011. Driver: San Francisco did not have a strong commercial performance, leading to the Driver game at Montreal being reworked into one that focused on hacking but still incorporated driving elements.[5] Ubisoft Montreal was Watch Dogs' lead developer, with additional support provided by Ubisoft Reflections, Ubisoft Paris, Ubisoft Quebec, and Ubisoft Bucharest.[6] The game was heavily anticipated following its gameplay reveal at E3 2012, though the final game, which was accused of graphical downgrading, triggered controversy.[7] The game was released for Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One in May 2014, and a Wii U version was released in November 2014.[8]

Downloadable content (DLC) for the game, titled Watch Dogs: Bad Blood, was released in September 2014. Starring Raymond "T-Bone" Kenney, a main character from the base game's story, as the playable protagonist, the DLC adds ten story missions, new "Street Sweep" contracts, as wells as new weapons, outfits, side missions, and an RC car.[9]

Watch Dogs 2 (2016)

[edit]
Main article: Watch Dogs 2

Set within a fictionalized version of the San Francisco Bay Area in 2016, Watch Dogs 2 follows the story of hacker Marcus Holloway, who is punished for a crime he did not commit through ctOS 2.0, and joins the hacking group DedSec in their efforts to raise social awareness about the dangers posed by ctOS 2.0. and expose the corruption of its creators, the Blume company. This installment expanded upon the multiplayer options from the first game and introduced new weapons and gadgets. Unlike Watch Dogs, the game features a much more vibrant and optimistic tone.[10] Ubisoft Montreal was the game's lead developer, with Ubisoft's studios in Toronto, Paris, Bucharest, Kyiv and Newcastle assisting the development.[11] Watch Dogs 2 was released in November 2016 for Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.[12]

Five downloadable content packs for the game have been released: the "T-Bone Content Bundle", "Human Conditions", "No Compromise", "Root Access Bundle", and "Psychedelic Pack".[13][14] As per an exclusivity agreement with Sony Interactive Entertainment, all DLCs were timed exclusives for PlayStation 4.[15]

  • Root Access Bundle (available in December 2016)[16] and Psychedelic Pack (available on launch day) feature a Zodiac Killer mission as well as new outfits, cars, skins, and weapons.[13][14]
  • The T-Bone Content Bundle was released for PlayStation 4 on December 22, 2016,[17] and includes a new co-op difficulty setting, "Mayhem", plus the clothes and truck of Raymond "T-Bone" Kenney.[13][14]
  • Human Conditions was released on February 21, 2017, for the PlayStation 4 and on March 23 for the Xbox One and PC,[18] and includes three new stories set in San Francisco's science and medicine industries. The pack also includes new co-op missions featuring a new enemy class called "the Jammer", a technologically savvy enemy capable of jamming all of a player's hacker equipment, making them vulnerable to head-on attacks.[13][14]
  • No Compromise was released on April 18, 2017, for PlayStation 4 and was launched on May 18 for Xbox One and Microsoft Windows, featuring a new story mission, outfits and weapons.[19]

Watch Dogs: Legion (2020)

[edit]
Main article: Watch Dogs: Legion

Set within a fictionalised representation of a futuristic, dystopian London, Watch Dogs: Legion follows the local branch of DedSec as they seek to clear their names after being framed for a series of terrorist bombings. DedSec also attempt to liberate London's citizens from the control of Albion, an oppressive private military company which turned the city into a surveillance state following the bombings.[20] The game introduces a multiple playable characters system, allowing players to recruit virtually any NPC found in the game's open world. Each playable character has their own unique skills and backgrounds, and can be lost permanently if players enable the option of permadeath before starting a new game. There are multiple ways to complete missions depending on which playable character is selected.[21] Ubisoft Toronto led the game's development, with Clint Hocking serving as its creative director.[22] Legion was released for Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Stadia on October 29, 2020; PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions were also made available once the consoles released.[23]

The game's online multiplayer component, which was delayed from its planned December 3 release to March 2021,[24][25] allows up to four players to complete exclusive cooperative missions, participate in various competitive game modes, or simply explore London together. Following its release, Legion was supported with several free updates that added new missions, game modes, and characters, including a number of special operatives, such as Mina Sidhu, a former test subject who has gained mind-control powers; Aiden Pearce, returning from the original Watch Dogs; Wrench, a major supporting character from Watch Dogs 2; and Darcy Clarkson, a member of the Assassin Brotherhood, as part of a non-canonical crossover with Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed franchise.[26] A paid story expansion titled Watch Dogs: Legion - Bloodline, featuring Aiden and Wrench in a new storyline set after their respective games but before the events of Legion's main campaign, was released on July 6, 2021.[27]

Common elements

[edit]

Gameplay

[edit]

The Watch Dogs series is part of a genre known as sandbox games. The series combines elements of action, adventure, stealth and vehicular gameplay. The player can freely roam the virtual world on foot or by use of vehicles and make use of an array of weapon and melee-based combat. Illegal activities such as assaulting non-player characters (NPCs) will instigate a proactive and usually lethal response from authoritative figures. In the instance of death, the player will respawn near the area where they were killed.

In each game, the player assumes control of a hacker, who can hack into various electronic devices connected to the fictional ctOS system with their in-game smartphone.[28][29] While most of the abilities granted by ctOS are useful for solving puzzles or in stealth sections, the player can make use of them at almost any given time during gameplay to create different scenarios, such as hacking into the traffic lights to create a traffic jam or calling the police on unsuspecting NPCs. In each game, the player can level up and unlock new hacker abilities and gadgets. In Watch Dogs 2, more weapons and hacker gadgets were introduced, such as a taser and a quadcopter.[30]

Setting

[edit]

The Watch Dogs games take place in fictionalized versions of real-life cities that have implemented ctOS. Watch Dogs is set in the Chicago area, Watch Dogs 2 in the San Francisco Bay Area, and Watch Dogs: Legion in Greater London. While the first two games take place during modern times, Legion is set in the "near future" (circa 2030), depicting significant advancements in technology.

Reception

[edit]
Aggregate review scores
Game Metacritic
Watch Dogs (PC) 77/100
(PS4) 80/100
(XONE) 78/100
(WIIU) 62/100
Watch Dogs 2 (PC) 75/100
(PS4) 82/100
(XONE) 81/100
Watch Dogs: Legion (PC) 72/100[31]
(PS4) 70/100[32]
(PS5) 66/100[33]
(XONE) 76/100[34]
(XSX) 74/100[35]

Watch Dogs received generally positive reviews despite criticism aimed at certain technical issues, the discrepancy in graphical quality between marketing and the real game, narrative, and protagonist. It sold more than 10 million copies by the end of 2014.[36][37]

Watch Dogs 2 received generally positive reviews upon release, with critics generally regarding it as an improvement over the original game.[38] While the game struggled at launch commercially, more than 10 million units were sold by 2020.[39]

Watch Dogs: Legion received overall mixed reviews. Critics were polarized over the multiple playable characters aspect, with some appreciating its diversity and the inclusion of permadeath for allowing emotional attachment from players, while others criticized the characters' lack of personality and the imbalance between their abilities. Criticism was further aimed at the game's world, driving mechanics, inconsistent difficulty, repetitive missions, online features and technical problems.

Other media

[edit]

Comics

[edit]

An eBook, //n/Dark Clouds by John Shirley as a continuation of the first Watch Dogs, was released in conjunction with the game.[40] A comic book miniseries, Watch Dogs: Return to Rocinha, was published by Titan Comics in 2019; it was later merged into a single book. A Watch Dogs: Legion prequel novel, titled Day Zero, and a companion book, titled Resistance Report, were published by Aconyte Book and Insight Editions, respectively, prior to the game's release.[41] A spin-off comic book series was released monthly beginning in November 2021 by Behemoth in the United States and in two collected editions in France by Glénat.[42][43] A prequel novel to the Watch Dogs: Legion - Bloodline expansion, titled Stars and Stripes, which follows Aiden Pearce and bridges the gap between the events of Watch Dogs and Legion, was published by Aconyte Books in April 2022.[42]

Film adaptation

[edit]
Main article: Watch Dogs (film)

In 2013, it was rumored that a film adaptation of the first Watch Dogs game was in development by Ubisoft Film & Television, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and New Regency.[44][45] In 2014, Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese were commissioned to write the film.[46] In 2016, Engadget published an article stating that the film was still in development and that Ubisoft planned to make film renditions for all of its franchises.[47] The film remained in development hell for over 7 years, until 2024, when it was reported that Sophie Wilde was set to star in the film, with Mathieu Turi directing and Christie LeBlanc writing an original screenplay.[48] In June, Tom Blyth joined Wilde.[49] In July, Ubisoft announced that filming had officially begun.[50]

Animated series

[edit]

In 2019, it was reported that a Watch Dogs-inspired "cybermystery" animated television series was in development. Unlike the video games, which are rated M, the series would be aimed at tweens and would follow a teenage “super hacker” protagonist who solves crimes in her high school.[51]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "How the new Disrupt engine gives life to Watch Dogs". Destructoid. May 10, 2013. Archived from the original on August 3, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  2. ^ "Ubisoft has 11 current generation titles that have sold 10 million copies". May 15, 2020. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  3. ^ Cook, Dave (January 16, 2014). "Watch Dogs: pre-delay budget was $68 million, producer claims". VG247. Archived from the original on October 12, 2017.
  4. ^ Dutton, Fred (May 16, 2013). "Watch_Dogs: Behind the scenes with 2013's rule-breaking action epic". PlayStation Blog. Archived from the original on January 11, 2018.
  5. ^ Peel, Jeremy (May 24, 2021). "Inside the Driver game that died so that Watch Dogs could live". VG247. Archived from the original on May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  6. ^ Brightman, James (May 15, 2014). "Watch Dogs becomes Ubisoft's most pre-ordered new IP". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on October 1, 2014.
  7. ^ Makuch, Eddie (March 7, 2014). "Watch Dogs visuals have not been downgraded, Ubisoft says". GameSpot. Archived from the original on March 8, 2014.
  8. ^ Matulef, Jeffery (September 10, 2014). "Watch Dogs Wii U gets a November release date". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  9. ^ Devore, Jordan (September 3, 2014). "Watch Dogs: Bad Blood stars a different playable character". Destructoid. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  10. ^ Hall, Matt (November 28, 2016). "Watch Dogs 2 walkthrough: Guide and tips to everything you can do in the open-world sequel". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  11. ^ van der Linde, Damon (June 8, 2016). "Ubisoft's Watch Dogs 2 looks at the sunnier side of Big Brother". National Post. Archived from the original on June 9, 2017.
  12. ^ Saed, Sherif (June 7, 2016). "Watch Dogs 2 November release date and San Francisco setting confirmed". VG 247. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d Varanini, Giancarlo (November 2, 2016). "Watch Dogs 2 Season Pass Detailed". Ubisoft. Archived from the original on November 24, 2016.
  14. ^ a b c d Conditt, Jessica (November 3, 2016). "The $40 Watch Dogs 2 Season Pass includes new stories, clothes". Engadget. Archived from the original on November 24, 2016.
  15. ^ Kuchera, Ben (June 13, 2016). "Watch Dogs 2 DLC to be exclusive to PlayStation 4 for 30 days". Polygon. Archived from the original on June 13, 2016.
  16. ^ Shive, Chris (December 8, 2016). "Watch Dogs 2 Root Access Bundle Available Now". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on June 7, 2017.
  17. ^ Pereira, Chris (December 9, 2016). "Watch Dogs 2's First DLC Pushed Back Due to Time Spent on Patches". GameSpot. Archived from the original on June 7, 2017.
  18. ^ Nunneley, Stephany (February 17, 2017). "Watch Dogs 2 Human Conditions DLC adds five hours of content, video takes a look at two new missions". VG247. Archived from the original on June 7, 2017.
  19. ^ Watters, Chris (April 18, 2017). "Watch Dogs 2 No Compromise DLC Available Now on PS4". Ubisoft. Archived from the original on June 7, 2017.
  20. ^ Vincent, Brittany (July 12, 2020). "Watch Dogs: Legion lets you build your own team of hackers to save London". CNN. Archived from the original on July 13, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  21. ^ Sheridan, Connor (July 17, 2020). "Who would make the best Watch Dogs: Legion NPC?". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on August 17, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  22. ^ Higham, Michael (July 12, 2020). "Watch Dogs: Legion Director Clint Hocking On Embracing Its Political Themes". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  23. ^ Purslow, Matt (October 31, 2019). "Watch Dogs Legion, Rainbow Six Quarantine, and Gods and Monsters Are Now Next-Generation PS5 and Xbox Scarlett Games". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 3, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  24. ^ Arora, Akhil (March 9, 2021). "Watch Dogs: Legion Online Multiplayer Delayed for PC, Again — This Time Indefinitely". Gadgets 360. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  25. ^ Boudreau, Ian (March 19, 2021). "Watch Dogs Legion's online mode has arrived on PC". PCGamesN. Network N. Archived from the original on March 20, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  26. ^ Nunneley, Stephanny (October 6, 2020). "Watch Dogs: Legion trailer focuses on story, post-release content detailed". VG 247. Archived from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  27. ^ S. Good, Owen (June 12, 2021). "Watch Dogs: Legion's first premium expansion, Bloodline, launches in July". Polygon. Archived from the original on June 13, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  28. ^ "How Close is Watch Dogs to Real Life?". Kotaku. April 29, 2014. Archived from the original on September 8, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  29. ^ J. Seppala, Timothy (May 23, 2014). "The real-life hacking behind Watch Dogs' virtual world". Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  30. ^ Hollister, Sean (November 14, 2016). "Watch Dogs 2: How real are the hacks in Ubisoft's techno-thriller?". CNET. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  31. ^ "Watch Dogs: Legion for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  32. ^ "Watch Dogs: Legion for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  33. ^ "Watch Dogs: Legion for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on December 15, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  34. ^ "Watch Dogs: Legion for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  35. ^ "Watch Dogs: Legion for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  36. ^ "Watch Dogs PC". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 10, 2018.
  37. ^ Ubisoft (February 12, 2015). "Ubisoft® reports third quarter 2014-15 sales" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on February 13, 2015. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  38. ^ Webster, Andrew (November 14, 2016). "Watch Dogs 2 Is Exactly What The Original Game Should Have Been". The Verge. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  39. ^ O'Connor, James (May 14, 2020). "Ubisoft Has 11 Games That Have Sold Over 10 Million Copies This Gen, And Some Are Surprising". GameSpot. Archived from the original on May 21, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  40. ^ Macy, Seth G. (April 17, 2014). "Ubisoft Announces Watch Dogs eBook". IGN. Archived from the original on September 18, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  41. ^ "New Watch Dogs: Legion books available now". Ubisoft. Archived from the original on May 10, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  42. ^ a b "Introducing Watch Dogs: Legion Graphic Novels and More". Ubisoft. September 2, 2021. Archived from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  43. ^ Scheeden, Jesse (July 6, 2021). "Watch Dogs Legion Comic Book Will Expand on the Game's Universe". IGN. Archived from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  44. ^ Graser, Marc (June 12, 2013). "Ubisoft To Make Movies Based on 'Watch Dogs,' 'Far Cry,' 'Rabbids' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016.
  45. ^ Kain, Erik (August 20, 2013). "Sony And Ubisoft Team Up On 'Watch Dogs' Feature Film". Forbes. Archived from the original on October 12, 2017.
  46. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (April 24, 2014). "'Zombieland' Scribes Wernick & Reese To Script Ubisoft's 'Watch Dogs' For Sony & New Regency: Video". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  47. ^ "Ubisoft is still making a 'Watch Dogs' movie". Engadget. June 13, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  48. ^ Kroll, Justin (March 8, 2024). "'Watch Dogs' Movie In The Works At New Regency With 'Talk To Me' Breakout Sophie Wilde Starring". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  49. ^ Kroll, Justin (June 5, 2024). "'Hunger Games' Star Tom Blyth Joins Sophie Wilde In New Regency's 'Watch Dogs' Adaptation". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  50. ^ Gallagher, Danny (July 3, 2024). "The Watch Dogs movie has finally started filming after 10 years". Engadget. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  51. ^ Shanley, Patrick (October 10, 2019). "Ubisoft Planning Animated TV Adaptations of Popular Game Franchises (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
Retrieved from "https://wiki.riteme.site/w/index.php?title=Watch_Dogs&oldid=1252957440"