May 5th 2024.
Recently, there have been rumors circulating about the future of the Watch Dogs franchise. Some say that Ubisoft has decided to put the series on hold, leaving fans wondering if there will be another installment. As a fan myself, I stumbled upon an article on GameCentral discussing the possible end of Watch Dogs. While Ubisoft has not officially confirmed anything, it wouldn't be a shock to see the series come to an end, especially considering the mixed reactions to the most recent release.
I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed Watch Dogs: Legion and was excited to purchase it on its release day. The concept of playing in a modern-day London was intriguing, especially since it built upon Ubisoft's previous interest in my hometown. As someone who has spent time in London's West End, the setting in Assassin's Creed Syndicate felt instantly familiar. But with Legion, the modern world was even more recognizable and enjoyable to explore. Plus, with the game's release coinciding with the Covid pandemic and its restrictions, it provided a much-needed escape from the four walls of our homes.
Of course, like any Ubisoft open-world game, it had its issues. One of the main problems being the over-promising of what the game could deliver. For me, the motivation to play Legion was solely to explore the City of London. The overarching conspiracy narrative and digital insurgency threats to democracy didn't really capture my attention. Similarly to Syndicate, my motivation for clearing each area wasn't to restore liberty, but rather to bring the city back to its normal state.
However, stripping away the futuristic elements to make the locations appear more "normal" highlighted a significant issue. Those changes just weren't interesting or appealing to players. In contrast, the first Watch Dogs game, released in 2014, had a darker and more traditional narrative structure. It also had a hint of the Nolan Batman films as players raced around the dark, rain-soaked streets of Chicago in a black muscle car, fighting against injustice and an elusive threat to the city's citizens.
People play games for various reasons, and the virtual sandbox concept has proven to be extremely popular and profitable. But with this particular series, it always seemed as though it didn't quite understand what it was trying to accomplish as it expanded beyond the first release. The lighter visual setting of Watch Dogs 2, set in a fictionalized version of San Francisco, felt like a direct response to the first game's setting. And then Legion, in turn, grew from a single character to the ability to play as anyone. While it was fun, it lacked motivation and purpose.
The idea of playing as anyone was ambitious, but it didn't quite deliver. Personally, I never felt attached to any of my virtual avatars. The first game had a more traditional protagonist whose motivations and drive were easy to understand. But with Legion, having the entire city's population at your control meant there was no real incentive or reason to empathize or relate to any of the characters.
To use the Batman analogy, it would be like watching The Dark Knight through the eyes of every character for a few moments before moving on to the next nameless individual. After a while, you'd stop caring. Legion had a forgettable conspiracy-laden plot and characters that I couldn't connect with, so it's not surprising that it didn't perform as well as expected.
Fundamentally, Legion was just another generic open-world game. What made it appealing to me was the setting - the first game to depict a modern European city in such detail. It would have been fascinating to see this continued in a virtual interpretation of modern-day Paris, Berlin, or Rome. While exploring New York or other cities in games like Grand Theft Auto can be fun, it has become quite common. London has its own distinct character and aesthetic, making it a great virtual sandbox to explore. It was especially exciting to do so during a time when real-life exploration was restricted.
In a world where AI manipulation of news and events, billionaire figures with both liberating and dangerous potential, and the pushback against traditional media consumption are prevalent, it would be odd to see the franchise overlooked. Despite its flaws, Watch Dogs has the potential to address these issues, given its DNA. Will a sequel return to its traditional American setting? It's possible. Ubisoft has been open-minded in its use of settings and cultures to advance a narrative. But personally, I hope to see a more global vision for this world. If not, it was still a pleasure to spend a few hours exploring my home city at a time when it seemed like a distant possibility.
By reader comfortablyadv
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