Ubisoft will release an expanded version of Watch Dogs: Legion next year according to reports, but the company’s CEO says otherwise.
During the PlayStation 4 generation, Watch Dogs appeared to be a major pillar for Ubisoft, but all enthusiasm around the franchise died with 2020’s Watch Dogs: Legion.
The third game in Ubisoft’s open world hacker series took place within a futuristic, dystopian London. Unlike the prior two games, the hook was that you could take control of almost every non-playable character strolling around the streets.
Watch Dogs: Legion wasn’t well received and, apart from a stalled movie adaptation, the franchise has been put on ice since. However, it seems Ubisoft might be gearing up to give the second sequel a second chance.
According to Insider Gaming and IGN, Watch Dogs: Legion will be re-released via a new Director’s Cut version in the ‘first half’ of next year.
It’s claimed 100 developers at Ubisoft Montreal are working on the new version, but there are no concrete details on how it will expand the original. However, it will presumably feature some new content and a graphical upgrade for modern systems.
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The idea of re-releasing Watch Dogs: Legion seems peculiar unless it has some notable improvements, especially as Watch Dogs 2 is widely considered to be the best one.
According to Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, however, Watch Dogs isn’t something they’re working on right now. Speaking during the company’s recent annual meeting with investors, prior to these reports, Guillemot claimed a new game in the franchise isn’t in production, but the franchise is still important to the company.
‘It is not expected to be put in a creative house for the moment, before it’s potentially remade,’ Guillemot said (via Game File’s translation).
His comment might sound like Ubisoft is considering a Watch Dogs remake of sorts, but this might be a translation issue, or refer to some other kind of reboot.
Despite these comments though, Ubisoft could still be working on a refresh of Watch Dogs: Legion, as investor meetings aren’t the usual forum for announcing new projects.
Ubisoft has undergone some notable shifts over recent years, including the opening of new subsidiary Vantage Studios. The studio owns Ubisoft’s biggest IP, namely Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six.
While new Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry games are in development, it’s unclear where that leaves its other franchises. However, Ubisoft stated Prince Of Persia is still an ‘active’ IP as of earlier this year.
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