Sitara Dhawan
She paints with light and code, turning San Francisco's walls into declarations of war against the surveillance state.
Sitara Dhawan is a fictional character from the Watch Dogs video game series, appearing as a supporting protagonist in Watch Dogs 2. She is a skilled hacker and graffiti artist who serves as the DedSec hacker collective's in-house artist and propaganda specialist, responsible for creating the group's iconic visual identity and viral media campaigns.
Quick Facts
- Role
- DedSec hacker and artist
- Affiliation
- DedSec (San Francisco chapter)
- First appears
- Watch Dogs 2 (2016)
- Status
- Alive (as of Watch Dogs 2)
Lore & Background
Sitara Dhawan is a key member of the DedSec hacker collective in San Francisco, known for her expertise in graffiti art and digital propaganda. She uses her artistic talents to create stunning visual statements that challenge the oppressive systems of ctOS 2.0 and the Blume Corporation. Her work often combines traditional street art with augmented reality, making her a formidable force in the group's public-facing operations.
As DedSec's media specialist, Sitara is responsible for crafting the collective's public image through carefully designed logos, murals, and viral videos. Her background in fine arts and computer science allows her to seamlessly blend aesthetics with hacking, creating memorable campaigns that inspire the public and frustrate authorities. She is portrayed as passionate, creative, and fiercely loyal to the cause of digital freedom.
Reader's Guide
Sitara Dhawan was created by Ubisoft as part of the Watch Dogs 2 development team's effort to diversify the DedSec cast and emphasize the artistic side of hacking. Unlike the more utilitarian characters in the first Watch Dogs, Sitara represents the countercultural ethos of the San Francisco Bay Area hacker scene. Her character was designed to showcase how hacking can be a form of artistic expression, not just technical intrusion.
Between Watch Dogs 2 and the series' later entries, Sitara's role remained consistent as DedSec's artist, though her presence in Watch Dogs: Legion is limited to audio logs and references. The developers have stated in interviews that her character was inspired by real-world hacker artists and street graffiti movements, aiming to ground the game's futuristic technology in authentic subcultural practices. The broader cultural conversation around Sitara often focuses on the intersection of art, technology, and activism, reflecting real debates about surveillance, public space, and digital resistance.
Did You Know?
- Her character's name is derived from the Hindi word 'sitara' meaning 'star', reflecting her role as a guiding light for DedSec's public image.
- Her augmented reality murals in Watch Dogs 2 can be interacted with by players, revealing hidden messages and lore.
More in Development & Legacy
Elsewhere in Watch Dogs
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