- For almost a year, reports have suggested that Ubisoft has permanently shelved the Watch Dogs IP.
- However, a reliable insider seems to disagree, suggesting there’s still life in the series.
- This makes sense considering Ubisoft’s shifting focus on open-world games.
Watch Dogs was Ubisoft’s answer to Rockstar’s GTA, but despite so much potential, the series never really took off due to various factors, including big promises from the publisher that couldn’t be fulfilled and the fact that it was up against the biggest video game series ever.
Still, Watch Dogs games were commercial successes, up until 2020’s Legion, which sealed the IP’s fate. Following that flop, reports suggested the IP was shelved at Ubisoft, a claim corroborated more recently by famous journalist Tom Henderson.
However, that may not be true, as another major insider steps up, claiming the IP may not be dead, implying we can expect new entries from the series.
Why it matters: The first two Watch Dogs games have aged incredibly well and filled the open-world gap left by GTA due to the long hiatus between entries. As such, it’s exciting to see that the IP isn’t dead and that we can expect newer games from the series afterall.
In a discussion thread linking to Tom Henderson’s claim that Watch Dogs has been shelved at Ubisoft, insider Shinobi602 shared his two cents, saying, “Not exactly.”
Many thought that the insider was referring to the upcoming Watch Dogs film, however, that isn’t the case as he clarified his statement that he isn’t referring to the live-action adaptation.
I am not talking about a movie -Shinobi602
Despite Watch Dogs Legion performing poorly, the entire series is too big to be axed. Overall, the franchise has sold more than 25 million copies across 3 entries, with more than 20 million contributed from the first two games.
More recently, Ubisoft announced a major shakeup at the publisher and stated that it would be shifting towards a new operating model focused on open-world and live-service games.
Therefore, Watch Dogs’ inclusion in this shift would make sense. That said, in the future, they really need to rethink about their approach to the game if they don’t want to repeat the same mistakes.
Unfortunately, most of the developers behind the first two games have left the publisher. Ubisoft would really have to make some serious changes in the creative department if it wants the IP to recover, but that seems unlikely with each passing day.
Are you excited for more Watch Dogs games? Let us know in the comments below, or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.
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[Staff Writer]
Shaheer is currently pursuing a Business degree while also working as a part-time Content Writer. With his deep passion for both writing and video games, he has seamlessly transitioned into a role as a Journalist. Over the past two years, Shaheer has contributed as a freelancer to various websites and landed positions on acclaimed platforms like Gamerant. Currently, his role at Tech4gamers is as a Features Writer, but he also covers News occasionally. Shaheer’s favorite gaming franchises are Assassin’s Creed and the God of War series.
Get In Touch: shaheerzahid03@gmail.com
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