Although Ubisoft’s upcoming open-world hackathon Watch Dogs has been delayed to next year, fans will be delighted to know that the company is making most of this added time, making sure that the game arrives with zero hassles and is considered as “a benchmark for next-gen.”
Speaking recently to MCV in an interview, Ubisoft UK boss Rob Cooper spoke about the game and the fan reaction following the recent decision to delay the game, and how the company sees this delay with an optimistic set of eyes.
Stating that delaying Watch Dogs “was a tough decision to make,” Cooper stood by the decision. “The team has been working so hard to create a truly outstanding video game. The extra time is enabling the team to fulfill their vision and ambition,” he said.
On the topic of the company facing major disappointment from fans and media alike and if that harms the company’s next-gen ambitions in any way, Cooper stated: “I disagree – yes, there was some disappointment, but the overwhelming majority understood the decision because it is in the best interest of the game.”
“This game is a benchmark for next-gen: we won’t compromise on quality, and we want to exceed the expectations of people who are going to play the game. And I think that is what players see as Ubisoft’s role in this new generation: consistently delivering the highest quality, most innovative games.”
“With titles like Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Just Dance 2014, The Crew, and Tom Clancy’s The Division coming, you can see why that’s the expectation,” he added.
With the arrival of a number of new IPs from Ubisoft that support the next generation technology offered via the likes of Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PlayStation 4, Ubisoft is only expected to reach for greater heights.
Cooper said: “Both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are set to reinvigorate the market. They’ll attract current gamers, bring back lapsed gamers, and appeal to new audiences. Microsoft and Sony have both confirmed high pre-orders. Past market trends and our own internal estimates indicate that within 18 to 24 months the install base of next- gen consoles could double that of the previous generation over a comparable period,” he further added.
Watch Dogs from Ubisoft is currently scheduled for launches on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, and PC in early 2014.
