Watch Dogs

An action-adventure video game series developed and published by Ubisoft, focusing on hacker protagonists in open-world environments.

Action

Driving

Racing

Action-adventure

Open world

25

Games

2014–2020

Years

17

Platforms

$12.25

Ø CIB

+28.8%

24M change

About

The Watch Dogs franchise centers on skilled hackers who use their abilities to combat corrupt corporations and authoritarian surveillance systems. Players navigate fictionalized versions of real-world cities, utilizing hacking mechanics to manipulate the environment and gather information. The series debuted with the release of the original Watch Dogs in 2014.

Ubisoft developed and published the franchise, which originated from the development of an unreleased driving game before evolving into an open-world action-adventure series. The main series consists of three primary installments. The first game, Watch Dogs, was released in May 2014 following significant anticipation and marketing. It was accompanied by various retail configurations, including the Watch Dogs [ANZ Special Edition] and various strategy guides.

Its sequel, Watch Dogs 2, launched in 2016, shifting the setting to the San Francisco Bay Area and introducing a more lighthearted tone. The third entry, Watch Dogs: Legion, released in 2020, introduced a novel "play as anyone" mechanic allowing players to control almost any NPC in a dystopian London.

The franchise has expanded into other media, including books, comics, and an upcoming live-action film adaptation. Commercially, the series has sold tens of millions of units, establishing itself as one of Ubisoft's major intellectual properties during the eighth generation of video game consoles.