Home Gaming Ubisoft explains the Watch Dogs delay

Ubisoft explains the Watch Dogs delay

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Splainin'ToDo

No game is immune to delays, but dammit, it does sting when a big title gets pushed back a few months. It happened to Tomb Raider, it happened to Bioshock Infinite and last year Watch Dogs got held back for a 2014 release. Ubisoft, you got some splainin’ to do.

Speaking on the Ubiblog, Senior Producer Dominic Guay explained the reason for the delay, saying that the game just wasn’t ready for that launch date. “We looked at it together with Ubisoft HQ,” Guay said.

We thought we’d be done for Christmas. Everyone agreed. And that’s when we announced the date. And for quite a while, it really looked like we’d make it. When we got close to the end, we still could have shipped.

Ubisoft, wanting to launch the game when it was done (And probably not in a rather overcrowded festive season block of games), gave the team more time to finish up. “[Ubisoft HQ] said, ‘We understand, we see the same thing as you, you guys need more time.’ They agreed to it. I don’t know if I’m going to get that luxury every time I ship a game,” Guay explained.

That time allowed not only for polish, but for early ideas that fell by the wayside to make it into the game. They added the ability to send a high pitched frequency into enemy/NPC communication devices as a combat option, for example.

Whatever the reason, I’m just glad that the game is finally arriving. May 27 is the date for Watch Dogs to appear, and it’s only real competition will be from the upcoming Wolfenstein reboot, which looks gloriously trigger-happy on the violence.

Last Updated: March 10, 2014

76 Comments

  1. Now just make sure that the game isn’t broken when it arrives otherwise you are going to be in serious trouble buddy!!! (I WILL FIND YOU MYSELF)

    Reply

    • ToshZA

      March 10, 2014 at 08:47

      If the game is broken they’ll have 0 excuse. None. It better not be, for everyone’s sake.

      Reply

      • Brenz

        March 10, 2014 at 08:51

        If there is even a slight bug it will an absoloute joke.
        My faith will be gone, I might need to take up a new hobby, like knitting, or murder.

        Reply

        • Kagutsuchi

          March 10, 2014 at 08:52

          Well that escalated quickly.

          Reply

        • Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)

          March 10, 2014 at 09:00

          If you take up murder as a hobby it will only be blamed on video games O_o

          Reply

          • Brenz

            March 10, 2014 at 09:01

            Yeah thats true, damn hippies will find my copy of gta5 and blame it all on trevor.

          • Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)

            March 10, 2014 at 09:03

            Unless we kill off every one that blames murder on video games… That way we can classified as serial killers and everyone would be too afraid to blame it on video games out of the fear that they would be next 😀

          • ToshZA

            March 10, 2014 at 09:06

            Macabre and brilliant. I’m in.

          • Brenz

            March 10, 2014 at 09:13

            not a bad plan, im intrigued….

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 10, 2014 at 09:04

            O_O I thought I destroyed all the evidence.

  2. Martin du preez

    March 10, 2014 at 08:47

    Downgrading a game takes time. Not so hyped for this anymore.

    Reply

    • ToshZA

      March 10, 2014 at 08:48

      Console peasants are killing us PC boys with their downgrades.

      Reply

      • Brenz

        March 10, 2014 at 08:49

        I resent that statement

        Reply

      • Martin du preez

        March 10, 2014 at 10:25

        Yeah well,that’s just like your opinion,man

        Reply

        • ToshZA

          March 10, 2014 at 11:16

          Indeed it is 😀

          Reply

  3. JHN

    March 10, 2014 at 08:47

    What irritates me is if they delay it to finish it, then still have a day one patch to fix issues.

    Reply

  4. Umar Praise The Golden Sun

    March 10, 2014 at 08:50

    In all honesty I’ve since lost a lot of hype for this game. With the Downgrade debacle, I’m even less excited..

    I’m probably quite alone on this one…But Drakengard 3 is releasing the 20th of May and MUCH more excited for that game to be honest.

    Reply

    • Tarisma

      March 10, 2014 at 09:01

      Thank you for showing me this

      Reply

      • Umar Praise The Golden Sun

        March 10, 2014 at 09:03

        No Prob 🙂 The game is looking to be really awesome and Caveat really makes mind blowing stories!

        Reply

    • Brenz

      March 10, 2014 at 09:02

      Umar are you playing south park?

      Reply

      • Umar Praise The Golden Sun

        March 10, 2014 at 09:03

        Nope 🙁 My funds are reserved for DS 2 and FF X HD. Are you? really keen to get it though

        Reply

        • Brenz

          March 10, 2014 at 09:05

          Oh man it is brilliant.
          Not only is it a cool rpg (with turn based combat!), but its one of the funniest things I have seen in ages.
          If you are a south park fan it is such a cool experience.

          Reply

          • Umar Praise The Golden Sun

            March 10, 2014 at 09:06

            Yeah was quite surprised it’s turn-based. Def gonna pick it up sometime soon!

          • Brenz

            March 10, 2014 at 09:16

            Drakengard 3 looks pretty cool.
            Combat seems like it can get quite intense!
            Will keeping an eye out for it now

          • Umar Praise The Golden Sun

            March 10, 2014 at 09:31

            Yeah it’s looking pretty great, really can’t wait!

        • Kromas

          March 10, 2014 at 10:30

          Drop FF X HD and Get FF XIV.

          Reply

  5. Unavengedavo(aka. Bilbo)

    March 10, 2014 at 08:51

    Think they just need to have an official press release regarding the “Downgrade” debacle, because that caused a lot if people to jump off the hype train O_o

    Reply

  6. Kromas

    March 10, 2014 at 08:59

    I really don’t get this. Why should they explain that they did not want to release and incomplete game just because a release date was set. If you don’t get the reference Google Battlefield 4.

    Reply

    • Tarisma

      March 10, 2014 at 09:00

      Or Diablo 3

      Reply

      • ToshZA

        March 10, 2014 at 09:08

        Well, D3 wasn’t (besides the server issues – not excusing those) that broken, bug-wise. It just wasn’t what everyone wanted. It tried something, failed miserably, and they’ve since “fixed” it by giving the players what they wanted in the first place.

        BF4 is still broken.

        Reply

  7. Alien Emperor Trevor

    March 10, 2014 at 09:02

    I’m guessing it got delayed after they saw the shit-fit people threw over BF4. Nice to know they changed their mind about releasing a broken game & patching it later.

    Reply

  8. RinceThis

    March 10, 2014 at 09:05

    Still worried about this game…

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      March 10, 2014 at 09:13

      Why? It’s either worth playing or not, which we’ll find out when reviews come out. I’m done getting emotionally invested in games before they’re even released. Marketing hype has no power here. (except for you Witcher 3 – I love you like I love my 0.5 kid)

      Reply

      • ToshZA

        March 10, 2014 at 09:18

        DA:I looks pretty damn good so far too.

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          March 10, 2014 at 09:21

          Have I ever mentioned that I don’t buy EA games any more? 😉

          Reply

          • FoxOneZA

            March 10, 2014 at 09:24

            Since you won KP: Sims? 😛

          • ToshZA

            March 10, 2014 at 09:24

            Your loss. 🙂

        • Willem Swanepoel

          March 10, 2014 at 12:28

          It is going to be tough to play The Witcher 3, DA:I and play a game like TESO.

          Poor backlog .. poor poor backlog hahhaa

          Reply

      • RinceThis

        March 10, 2014 at 09:22

        Just think it isn’t going to live up to the hype. As for Witcher III, MINE! YOU BACK OFF!

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          March 10, 2014 at 09:26

          You haven’t even played Witcher 1 😛 LOSER!

          Reply

          • RinceThis

            March 10, 2014 at 09:26

            Witcher 2 beatch!

          • Willem Swanepoel

            March 10, 2014 at 10:21

            You guys can have or be like Geralt and have you collectors editions.

            I will just take Triss … muwahahha

            NUFF SAID!

          • ToshZA

            March 10, 2014 at 11:15

            hahahaha, and thus ends any further debate, while the rest of us sulk and plot your murder. Trev has a room and everything.

          • RinceThis

            March 10, 2014 at 09:27

            And do YOU have a Witcher 2 picture hanging in your living room? NO!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 10, 2014 at 09:28

            I have one in my murder room. Want to see?

          • RinceThis

            March 10, 2014 at 09:29

            You’ve been promising me that for years… It WILL be a let down…

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 10, 2014 at 09:38

            I didn’t build it for YOUR entertainment.

          • RinceThis

            March 10, 2014 at 09:46

            That’s the problem with you, you’re not a giver…

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 10, 2014 at 10:02

            That’s untrue. My comments give untold joy to millions.

          • ToshZA

            March 10, 2014 at 09:29

            @disqus_DoEH3TsffU:disqus and you can both stfu. I have collector’s editions of both games, but you don’t see me behaving like a school kid about it all. So now, you 2 go sit in the naughty corner, while the big people play The Witcher 3, mmk?

          • RinceThis

            March 10, 2014 at 09:30

            I have the collector’s edition too! *Stamps foot.

          • ToshZA

            March 10, 2014 at 09:31

            Now now, tantrums. Honestly, would Geralt of Rivia behave like this?

          • RinceThis

            March 10, 2014 at 09:32

            I AM GERALT OF RIVIA!

          • ToshZA

            March 10, 2014 at 09:33

            Being a father myself, this really is like dealing with an 8 year old boy. You realise that, I’m sure, but what you don’t realise is me pissing myself laughing as a result. Also, the mental image of you dressed up in a cheap Geralt costume that you never remove until its time to bath.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 10, 2014 at 09:34

            lol. mental image.

          • RinceThis

            March 10, 2014 at 09:35

            Bath?

          • ToshZA

            March 10, 2014 at 09:36

            I was wondering what that smell was. Thought Sasolberg was a bit too far away.

          • RinceThis

            March 10, 2014 at 09:36

            *Draws silver sword of DOOM…

          • ToshZA

            March 10, 2014 at 09:38

          • RinceThis

            March 10, 2014 at 09:41

            Bring it!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            March 10, 2014 at 09:40

            Put that paring knife away. It’s a family site.

          • Willem Swanepoel

            March 10, 2014 at 10:20

            haha nice

  9. FoxOneZA

    March 10, 2014 at 09:09

    I’ll wait for the Definitve HD 4K Uber Edition.

    Reply

    • ToshZA

      March 10, 2014 at 09:10

      Wanna hear the funny thing? If half the potential player base waits for this, there won’t be enough sales to justify making one, thereby effectively halving the potential player base.

      Reply

      • FoxOneZA

        March 10, 2014 at 09:14

        We aren’t forced to buy the game are we? It’s our decision with our money and after the downgrade debacle, Ubi isn’t being straight up with it’s fanbase. They’ve burned PC gamers with a broken AC4, what stops them this time round?

        Reply

        • ToshZA

          March 10, 2014 at 09:17

          I was just making an observation lol. O_o

          Reply

          • FoxOneZA

            March 10, 2014 at 09:22

            Conversation? On a Monday? 😛

  10. VampyreSquirrel

    March 10, 2014 at 09:16

    In generally unrelated news… South Park: The Stick of Truth (PC version via Steam Key) is available on Evo Points for $10 less than the current Steam store pricing. #justsaying

    Reply

  11. FoxOneZA

    March 10, 2014 at 09:18

    #DOWNGRADEGATE

    Reply

  12. JustAnotherGamer

    March 10, 2014 at 09:40

    Game got heavily downgraded since E3. Where I was interested, I’m no longer going to buy it. Rather save my money for Destiny.

    Reply

  13. Wyzak

    March 10, 2014 at 09:45

    it’s in brilliant company – I loved the Tomb Raider reboot and Bioshock Infinite!

    Reply

  14. Sk3tz0

    March 10, 2014 at 10:40

    Rather delays and make perfect than have another Simcity 5 on our hands hey..

    Reply

  15. Jack Chameleo

    March 10, 2014 at 13:56

    that explained nothing. WHY wasn’t the game ready? Say it, coward!

    Reply

  16. Tauriq Moosa

    March 10, 2014 at 15:10

    This Polygon video, by Brian Crecente is also excellent (includes his preview): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypVI_A0nw0c

    Reply

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