Summary
While Ubisoft seemed to have a lot of confidence in theWatch Dogsseries when it first launched, there are now rumors that the franchise has been quietly canceled. After three games failed to really make the impact the studio wanted, it has seemingly shuffled it off to the side. Nothing has been officially confirmed yet, but the future ofWatch Dogsdoes not look bright. However, there may be signs that Ubisoft has no plans to cancel it after all.
Recently, Ubisoft releasedCaptain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remixon Netflix. This short anime brings fans to a cyberpunk world filled with Ubisoft’s many IPs including Rayman, Sam Fisher, andAssassin’s Creed. It also seems to be filled to the brim with references toWatch Dogs' DedSec. Not only does the organization operate throughout the world, but it also plays a major role in the overarching story. While this could just be a fun way to let the brand live on in some fashion, it could also point to a renewed interest in the franchise.
Captain Laserhawk Makes it Seem Like Watch Dogs Has a Future
The Watch Dogs Franchise Has Struggled
Since the very firstWatch Dogs, the franchise has seemingly struggled to gain an audience. The first game was supposed to be this massive new open-world action-adventure title, and while it may have been fun, it also left much to be desired. Players enjoyed the gameplay a lot, but the story and protagonist proved rather bland. Additionally, the game was criticized for its apparent graphical downgrade. But even with all of that, it proved to be a massive success, so Ubisoft forged ahead witheven moreWatch Dogsadventures.
Watch Dogsbroke the record for the biggest first-day sales of a Ubisoft game and was the biggest launch of a new IP in the UK at the time of release.
Ubisoft seemed to take many of the criticisms to heartwhen it was developingWatch Dogs 2. The story was more fun, the protagonist was much more charismatic, and the gameplay was improved. However, its pre-orders were disappointing, and it failed to make the same impact the original did. While it still ended up selling over 10 million copies, it seems to have taken a bit longer to reach that goal than the original.
After a four-year wait, the studio tried the concept again withthe vastly differentWatch Dogs: Legion. It completely changed the way the franchise worked by giving players control of literally everyone. Even though that was an interesting premise, the concept did not translate well to sales, nor did it garner particularly strong reviews. It seems to have been a disappointment, which is why rumors have begun circulating that the franchise is now dead.
Ubisoft Seemingly Wants More from the Brand
If the rumors are to be believed, then Ubisoft has no plans to further develop theWatch Dogsfranchise. But, if that was truly the case, then it seems strange for the studio to put so much focus on the game’s fictional hacking group DedSec. Not only wasDedSec supposed to appear inXDefiant, but it also plays a major role inCaptain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix.
InCaptain Laserhawk, DedSec seems to be the primary focus of much of the story. One of the main characters has an interesting past with the organization,Watch Dogs 2’s Marcus Hollowayplays a major role, and much of the last couple of episodes revolve around the organization. While there is a chance that Ubisoft just used the name because it is a notable hacking group, it could also point to further interest in the brand.
Captain Laserhawkmay mean great things are in store forWatch Dogsfans. However, it could also mean nothing. The series also includes elements fromSplinter Cell, and it currently seems like the studio has no plans for future Sam Fisher adventures outside of a remake. So, DedSec’s inclusion could simply be a fun nod to Ubisoft’s massive catalog, but hopefully, it is more than that.
