Industry insider Tom Henderson has made a shocking claim: the Watch Dogs franchise, once a flagship series for Ubisoft, is “completely dead”. This news has sent ripples through the gaming community, leaving fans and industry experts wondering why Ubisoft would seemingly abandon a franchise that had shown promise. To understand the context behind this decision, it’s essential to examine the recent history of the Watch Dogs series and the current state of Ubisoft as a company.
From Promise to Obscurity: The Watch Dogs Franchise
When Watch Dogs debuted in 2014, it received generally positive reviews for its innovative gameplay mechanics and open-world design. The series went on to spawn two more games, Watch Dogs 2 in 2016 and Watch Dogs: Legion in 2020. However, despite its initial success, the franchise struggled to maintain momentum. The latest installment, Watch Dogs: Legion, received a mixed reception from critics and players, who felt that the game needed more development time before launch. Sources close to the project revealed that the developers themselves felt the game was rushed, which may have contributed to its lackluster performance.
The underwhelming performance of Watch Dogs: Legion likely played a significant role in Ubisoft’s decision to shelve the franchise. The game’s play-as-anyone mechanic, while innovative, may not have resonated with players as expected. Additionally, the game’s setting in a near-future London, while visually stunning, may not have offered enough new or exciting content to keep players engaged in the long term.
Ubisoft’s Strategic Shift
Ubisoft’s decision to abandon the Watch Dogs franchise reflects the company’s broader strategic challenges. Ubisoft has struggled to create new IPs that resonate with players, and its forays into live service and licensing have been costly failures. As a result, the company is in need of major strategic investment, which is set to come from Tencent, a Chinese tech giant. This investment will likely have significant implications for Ubisoft’s future game development and publishing plans.
With one of the biggest workforces in the industry, Ubisoft faces a significant overhead that is not sustainable without external investment. Historically, the company has been hesitant to fully commit to the Watch Dogs franchise, despite some internal fondness for the series. Employees have even created fan art based on the franchise, highlighting the passion and dedication of the development team. However, it seems that this affection was not enough to save the franchise from being discontinued.
What’s Next for Ubisoft?
As Ubisoft looks to the future, it’s clear that the company is undergoing a period of significant change. The shelving of the Watch Dogs franchise raises questions about the company’s ability to create and sustain successful IPs. With Tencent’s investment on the horizon, Ubisoft is likely to focus on developing new franchises and revamping existing ones to better compete in the market. The company’s future plans and adaptations to the changing gaming landscape will be crucial to its success.
According to Tom Henderson, a separate project that was unrelated to Watch Dogs was canceled after Watch Dogs: Legion was released. The cancellation of this project, combined with the shelving of the Watch Dogs franchise, suggests that Ubisoft is undergoing a significant reorganization of its development priorities. Fans of the Watch Dogs franchise can only hope that its legacy will live on in some form.
Analyzing Ubisoft’s Financials and Strategic Decisions
Ubisoft’s decision to abandon the Watch Dogs franchise can also be understood by examining the company’s financial situation. The company has one of the biggest workforces in the industry, resulting in a significant overhead that is not sustainable without external investment. In 2022, Ubisoft received a major strategic investment from Tencent, which acquired a 29.9% stake in the company. This investment was likely necessary to help Ubisoft offset its significant research and development costs, as well as its expenses related to live service and licensing deals.
The company’s financial struggles are also reflected in its recent performance metrics.
| Metric | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue (€ million) | 2,351 | 2,154 | 2,326 |
| Net Income (€ million) | 409 | 131 | 277 |
These numbers, sourced from Ubisoft’s official financial reports, indicate that while the company has maintained a relatively stable revenue stream, its net income has fluctuated significantly over the past few years.
The Impact of Changing Market Trends
The gaming industry is rapidly evolving, with changing player preferences and emerging trends reshaping the market. The rise of live service games, for example, has led to a shift away from traditional, single-player experiences. Ubisoft has struggled to adapt to these changes, with some of its live service titles, such as Rainbow Six Siege and Ghost Recon: Wildlands, experiencing significant success, while others, like Watch Dogs: Legion, have failed to gain traction.
The company’s attempts to innovate and experiment with new IPs have also been met with mixed results. The failure of Hyper Scape and Scalar demonstrates the risks and challenges associated with creating new IPs. As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, Ubisoft must carefully consider its strategic decisions and investments to ensure long-term success.
Restructuring and Rebirth
In light of its financial struggles and the shifting market trends, Ubisoft is likely to undergo significant restructuring efforts. This may involve reevaluating its existing IPs, investing in new projects, and streamlining its operations to reduce costs. According to
