Since it's debut at last year's E3, Watch Dogs is without a doubt one of the big games that has gamers salivating. An open world sandbox game where players can hack into a city's network and control everything from security cameras to traffic lights? Two please.
Since we're not master hackers like those featured in Watch Dogs, we've had to rely on Ubisoft doling out information as they see fit. To save you from clicking all over the 'net to find answers to your questions, everything that's been released about the game is provided below. Because we're good like that. This, dear reader, is everything you need to know about Watch Dogs.
The Story - Welcome to Chicago, or at least, a variation of it. The "second city" featured in Watch Dogs isn't much different from the one of the real world; the Sears tower is still there, Rapid Cab cars zip through the streets, and the citizens munch on pizza that pales in comparison to the east coast's. The major difference is the CtOS, a Big Brother styled network that controls just about everything in the city: aspects of transportation, communication, personal data, and more. The system was put in place after the real-life blackouts hit the eastern seaboard in 2003. In real life, it was a network failure. But in Watch Dogs, it was the work of a pissed off employee and a computer virus. The network has been put in place as a safeguard against similar instances. For most of Chicago's citizens, it's a system that makes city living a bit more convenient. For you, it's a weapon.
Protagonist - Players control Aiden Pearce, a vigilante computer hacker whose fingers can dance across a keyboard like a ballerina. With a nifty gadget called the Profiler (seen above), Pearce can tap into the city's CtOS, and manipulate it how he sees fit. Need some quick cash? Hack someone's account and grab some greenbacks from a nearby ATM. Want to know if that cute girl walking by is single? Hack into her social account and see for yourself. From the looks of it, its different options seem to function as a weapon wheel.
Pearce has been described as a morally gray character, giving players the choice of how they want to control him. He has something of a checkered past, doing time in prison for computer crimes. Much of his time in the city will be spent on the run from authority figures, as he has a bench warrant for arrest. He's since disassociated from his family, but uses his hacking skills to keep an eye on them. He's come to Chicago to take revenge against people who hurt his family, and he has all the right skills to do so.
Environment - What really stands out about Watch Dogs' Chicago is that everything is randomly generated, courtesy of the Disrupt engine, which further cements the idea that it's truly a living, breathing, city. Senior producer Dominic Guay describes, "We have traffic, weather, citizens. Everything is random." Guay brings up the example of a gunfight at an intersection, and how bystanders will act in different ways. One might call the police, another could try to help injured bystanders, etc.
Gameplay-
Hacking - This is the real bread and butter of Watch Dogs. Other sandbox games limit players to just exploring a city, but with Pearce's talents, you can control almost every part of it. From demos, we've seen Peace hack ATM's, change traffic signals, control cameras, get police records, even raise a bridge, but this is likely just the beginning. Pearce will also be able to infiltrate CtOS centers, giving him more access to other parts of the city, extending player options.
Stealth - As Pearce is a man on the run, he can't risk operating out in the open for long periods of time. Likewise for when he has to infiltrate CtOS centers. It also explains his choice of attire, with a ball cap on his head and a scarf over his mouth. A cover system is in place for when Pearce has to operate on the downlow, and mastering security cameras is crucial in these moments.
Combat - Sometimes hacking can only take you so far, and just isn't a substitute for a good 'ol fashioned punch in the jaw. Pearce knows this, and keeps a baton equipped for equipped for just such a situation. Pearce also isn't afraid to pick up a gun when he has to, which is another time the cover system comes into play.
Navigation - Like its GTA competitor, there's a wide range of options Pearce has to get around town. 60 plus types of vehicles, including motorcycles, will be available for Pearce to use, as well as Chicago's transit system; subways, L-train, etc. If a vehicle isn't at hand, Pearce is also a consummate free runner, able to vault over objects or scurry up a building with ease, like a great many other Ubisoft heros.
Multiplayer - This feature hasn't been elaborated on too much yet by Ubisoft. The developer's only offered hints on the mode, saying their ambition is to break down the wall between single-player and multiplayer that has existed for decades, and will overlap each other "seamlessly." A companion app is also in development for the game that is planned to be a "mobile extension" of the game.
Release
Watch Dogs is slated to hit consoles of both this and the next console generation, specifically PlayStation 3 and 4, Xbox 360, PC, and the Wii U. A leaked poster said the game would arrive in time for the holiday season. Ubisoft later confirmed the game would release on Nov. 19 release for North America and Nov. 22 release in Europe. Four different editions of the game have been announced: DEDSEC, VIGILANTE, Uplay, and Special editions.
The Dedsec Edition has the most to offer, with a figurine of Pearce, a steelbook and collector box, artbook and soundtrack, four augmented reality collectible cards and three badges, and map of the game's Chicago. Additionally, three single player missions will be provided as digital content, adding around an hour of additional gameplay; the Palace Pack, centred on a police raid of an Internet mogul; Signature Shot, dealing with a biometrics weapon smuggled into Chicago; and the Breakthrough Pack, which tasks you with outing the criminals holding corporate CEOs to ransom.
The Vigilante Edition comes with a collector box, Aiden's cap and scarf, and the game's soundtrack along with the Palace Pack mission, the Uplay Exclusive Edition comes with the steelbook and the three single player missions mentioned above and, finally, the Special Edition comes with the Breakthrough pack.
