Ubisoft: Watch Dogs Is 'Important' But No New Game Anytime Soon

Ever wonder what's going on with Watch Dogs? You're not alone. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot recently addressed the franchise's future, and the news is a mixed bag: the series is still considered important, but don't expect a new game anytime soon.

During an investor Q&A, Guillemot said Ubisoft views Watch Dogs as "an important brand for the future." However, he didn't elaborate on how. According to Game File's Stephen Totilo, Guillemot's comments suggest there are no Watch Dogs games in active development right now. So it sounds like Ubisoft is still figuring out where to take the series next.

It's been a rocky road for Watch Dogs. The original launched in 2014 (after a delay from its planned 2013 PS4 launch) and was hyped as a direct competitor to Grand Theft Auto 5. While it made a dent in the open-world crime genre, many felt it didn't fully deliver on its ambitions. A sequel set in San Francisco arrived two years later and was much more impressive, but the momentum fizzled with 2020's Watch Dogs: Legion. That game had ambitious ideas—like recruiting any NPC—but received mixed reception from fans.

So where does that leave things? Ubisoft seems to want to do more with Watch Dogs, but it may be trying to figure out how to stand out from Grand Theft Auto 6, which is set to shake up the genre in November. That's a tall order, and it might explain why the series is on ice for now.

Meanwhile, there's a Watch Dogs movie in the works, but it's been stuck in limbo. The film wrapped production two years ago and had reshoots last year, yet there's been no meaningful promotion and no release date. It's a bit of a mystery.

For now, it seems Watch Dogs fans will have to wait. There may be more games one day, but don't expect them within the next few years. What do you think—should Ubisoft give Watch Dogs another shot, or is it time to move on?