I’ve tried to like Watch Dogs. I genuinely have. But the combination of a protagonist who happens to be blander than rice cakes and Ubisoft’s insistence of doing too much in an open-world setting without any real direction, just put me off. Watch Dogs was a fine game, make no mistake, but it was a game that fell short of expectations and the massive hype that was thrown on top of it. A sequel isn’t exactly unwelcome at this point. But it’s going to need to take more chances.
Even though Watch Dogs 2 has yet to be officially announced, there’s no way that Ubisoft is going to let this franchise lie dormant after the amount of effort that went into it. Speaking to GamesTM, creative director Jonathan Morin explained that Watch Dogs would need to take bigger risks. “The challenge when we made the first game was to create something that would make people dream about something else”, Morin explained.
When you start a new project [and new IP], it’s a blank page and everything you do is what you want to do. With a sequel, there is more pressure to push a brand forward and we now have to appeal to fans in a new way. You have to carry on taking risks. I will not do this job if there is no risk in it, that would just be boring. You shouldn’t prevent yourself from trying something just because it’s hard and the solution is not apparent.
So what kind of risks is Morin talking about? Sequel ideas that would allow players to create their own stories within the game, using the Profiler system. Expanding on alternate realities is also on the cards, as the AR game modes were a hit with fans. But it very much sounds like Morin and his team are going back to square one. Which is positive news, as I believe that Watch Dogs still has plenty of potential to shine.
Now that the world and the technology has established itself, it also means that Ubisoft can focus on going bigger, bolder and better with their Watch Puppy.
Last Updated: January 19, 2015
Jac7
January 19, 2015 at 14:13
“The challenge when we made the first game was to create something that would make people dream about something else” – They succeeded. I was constantly dreaming about playing something else.
ToshZA
January 19, 2015 at 14:19
In that spirit, the most risky thing about Watch Dogs 2 is in fact making it.
Kensei Seraph
January 19, 2015 at 14:32
Now that I’ve actually read through the comments I’m pleasantly surprised that I wasn’t the only one to think this.
Admiral Chief
January 19, 2015 at 14:40
Haha, nice, this deserves to be featured
RinceThis
January 19, 2015 at 14:43
Damn you! Got there before me…
Gr8_Balls_o_KFM_Fire
January 19, 2015 at 15:22
Lmao I thought the same thing when I read that
Matthew Holliday
January 19, 2015 at 14:18
who on earth played this and thought “yes, i could justify the need for a sequel.”
Gr8_Balls_o_KFM_Fire
January 19, 2015 at 15:23
Darryn. Even though he denies it
Raptor Rants A Lot
January 19, 2015 at 14:21
Watch Puppy. Hehehe
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 19, 2015 at 14:25
Let’s hope they do the same as they did with Assassin’s Creed, make a much better game the 2nd time around.
Raptor Rants A Lot
January 19, 2015 at 14:28
Assassin’s creed was ever good?
Kensei Seraph
January 19, 2015 at 14:31
There was a pretty big improvement between AC1 and AC2.
Hammersteyn
January 19, 2015 at 14:31
Black Flags was excellent
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 19, 2015 at 14:32
I’ve enjoyed all the ones I’ve played, up to & including 3.
Admiral Chief
January 19, 2015 at 14:40
The seventh one was good I hear
Rock789
January 19, 2015 at 15:26
I enjoyed AC1. Was a great game for it’s time and I loved the setting… Hell, I played it towards the beginning of last year and still enjoyed it…
But yeah, AC2 just set that bar mighty high. Not sure any have reached that pinnacle since (although AC4 may have been the closest in a while).
Matthew Holliday
January 19, 2015 at 16:09
i dunno, i still think AC1 was amazing for its time.
obviously 2 was an improvement, but when i played AC1 close to its release date, i was pretty impressed.
Matt Merks
January 19, 2015 at 14:25
It could be the riskiest game of all time, they aren’t getting my money this time.
Brandon van Reenen
January 19, 2015 at 14:25
Watch Dogs was a great game, albeit overrated. Make it a little more sandboxier and enhance the driving and you have a winner.
Kensei Seraph
January 19, 2015 at 14:29
“The challenge when we made the first game was to create something that would make people dream about something else”
I think they succeeded.
People were quickly dreaming about the other more interesting game they were playing, like Minesweeper.
Ryanza
January 19, 2015 at 14:32
Watchdogs riskier? Like no fucking Uplay and DRM, riskier.
Don’t support DRM. The Witcher 3 is coming.
Kensei Seraph
January 19, 2015 at 14:33
Uplay and DRM is a risk, not the other way round.
Don’t support life. Death is coming. Eventually. 😛
Ryanza
January 19, 2015 at 14:45
When I look at PC games where nearly all publishers are doing DRM clients. Ya I think that risk you speak of is long out of the window.
Then again you comparing not support DRM to not supporting life. YA…
Kensei Seraph
January 20, 2015 at 07:49
It’s meant as a random (and probably really bad) joke.
I have a weird sense of humour and it made me chuckle.
Ryanza
January 19, 2015 at 14:34
Meant this video.
Hammersteyn
January 19, 2015 at 14:32
Hype almost chocked the life out of it. Then there was the graphics issue the mustard race had. Was a fun game in the end. Only thing that irked me was that the hardest parts was the minigames.
Admiral Chief
January 19, 2015 at 14:41
I want to install again after I seriously beefed up ye olde pc
RinceThis
January 19, 2015 at 14:45
that’s what happens with crap, superficial characters that are all stereotyped.
HairyEwok
January 19, 2015 at 14:48
Wait till you see the specs of this when it comes out….. Octa cores galore perhaps with SLI/Crossfire as a minimum requirement.
Rock789
January 19, 2015 at 15:25
Risk for the win!!!
Ghost In The Rift
January 19, 2015 at 15:27
I have never played this game,how well was it optimized for PC?
Michael
January 20, 2015 at 07:48
Thought this comic about Watch Dogs 2 was really good 🙂
Nikola
January 20, 2015 at 10:13
AND what exactly is wrong with rice cakes come on…
fjackets
February 12, 2015 at 14:22
Some how reading this i get the feeling that he believes he managed to beat gtav in terms of quality… Tell him he’s dreaming.
i relly like the watch dog and character Aiden Pearce and his coat. I buy this coat on Fjackets see this coat guys and tell me its great or not.