Watch_Dogs
A hacker's revenge in a connected Chicago.
Watch Dogs (often written as WATCH_DOGS) is an action-adventure video game series published by Ubisoft. The games are mainly developed by Ubisoft’s Montreal and Toronto studios using the Disrupt engine. The first game came out in 2014, set in a fictional version of Chicago in 2013, where gray hat hacker and vigilante Aiden Pearce seeks revenge after his niece is killed. The game generated huge excitement after its E3 2012 gameplay reveal, but the final version sparked controversy over claims of graphical downgrading.
The series focuses on open-world gameplay where players complete story missions and explore side activities. Core mechanics include driving, shooting, and stealth, with some role-playing and puzzle elements. Each game takes place in a fictionalized real city at a specific time, following different hacker protagonists who get caught up in the criminal underworld. The villains are typically corrupt companies, crime bosses, or rival hackers who exploit ctOS (central Operating System), a fictional network linking all electronic devices in a city and storing citizens’ personal data. Players can also use ctOS to control devices for combat, stealth, or puzzles.
The games have generally received positive reviews for gameplay, mission design, and world-building, though they’ve been criticized for technical glitches. Stories and characters have gotten mixed reactions. Financially, the series has done well, with the first two games selling over 20 million units combined.
The first game’s development started in 2009 with a $68 million budget. It began as a potential sequel in the Driver series, which was being worked on at Ubisoft Montreal alongside Driver: San Francisco at Ubisoft Reflections (released in 2011). After Driver: San Francisco underperformed commercially, the Montreal Driver project was reworked into a hacking-focused game that kept driving elements. Ubisoft Montreal led development, with help from Ubisoft Reflections, Paris, Quebec, and Bucharest. The game launched on Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One in May 2014, with a Wii U version in November 2014. Downloadable content called Watch Dogs: Bad Blood came out in September 2014, starring Raymond “T-Bone” Kenney as the playable protagonist, adding ten story missions, new “Street Sweep” contracts, weapons, outfits, side missions, and an RC car.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Watch Dogs
- Developer
- Ubisoft Montreal · Ubisoft Toronto
- Publisher
- Ubisoft
- Genre
- Action-adventure
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows · PlayStation 3 · PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 5 · Stadia · Xbox 360 · Xbox One · Xbox Series X/S · Wii U
- First Release Date
- 27 May 2014
- Latest Release Version
- Watch Dogs: Legion
- Latest Release Date
- 29 October 2020
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
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. The game's development began in 2009, with a budget of $68 million. The game uses the Disrupt game engine and is set in a fictionalized version of the Chicago metropolitan area in 2013. The player controls Aiden Pearce, a gray hat hacker and vigilante, who seeks revenge after the killing of his niece. The core gameplay consists of driving, shooting, and stealth segments, with occasional role-playing and puzzle elements. The player has access to ctOS, a fictional computing network that connects every electronic device in a city into a single system, which can be used to control various devices to assist in combat, stealth, or solving puzzles. The antagonists are usually corrupt companies, crime bosses, and rival hackers who take advantage of ctOS. Downloadable content titled Watch Dogs: Bad Blood was released in September 2014, starring Raymond 'T-Bone' Kenney as the playable protagonist, adding ten story missions, new 'Street Sweep' contracts, new weapons, outfits, side missions, and an RC car.
Reader's Guide
Watch Dogs is notable as the first entry in a financially successful franchise, with lifetime sales for the first two games exceeding 20 million units in total. The game received generally positive reviews for its gameplay elements, mission structure, and world design, with criticism for frequent technical issues, while the narratives and characters garnered mixed reactions. The game was heavily anticipated following its gameplay reveal at E3 2012, but the final game triggered controversy due to accusations of graphical downgrading. The game's development history is tied to a reworked Driver sequel, reflecting Ubisoft's response to commercial performance. The game introduced the ctOS hacking system, which became a series hallmark, and its DLC, Watch Dogs: Bad Blood, expanded the story with a supporting character. The game's setting in a fictionalized Chicago and its focus on a vigilante hacker seeking revenge established the tone and gameplay template for the series, which later evolved in sequels with different protagonists and settings.
Did You Know?
- Watch Dogs was derived from a potential sequel from the Driver series that was reworked into a hacking-focused game after Driver: San Francisco did not have strong commercial performance.
- The final game was accused of graphical downgrading after its E3 2012 reveal, triggering controversy.
- The DLC Watch Dogs: Bad Blood stars Raymond 'T-Bone' Kenney as the playable protagonist.
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