Ubisoft Confirms Watch Dogs Remains Part of Long-Term Plans Despite Hiatus

If you have been hoping for a return to the near-future hacking antics of the Watch Dogs universe, you might want to adjust your expectations. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot recently addressed the status of the franchise during an investor call, making it clear that while the publisher still views the IP as an important brand for the company’s future, there are currently no new games in active development.

The Current State of the Franchise

While Guillemot acknowledged the value of the series, he stopped short of detailing any specific roadmap for how it fits into Ubisoft’s upcoming release schedule. According to reports from Game File, the lack of active development suggests that the studio is still evaluating the direction of the series after the mixed reception of the 2020 entry, Watch Dogs: Legion.

Since its debut in 2014, the franchise has had a turbulent history. Initially pitched as a high-stakes competitor to Grand Theft Auto, the series struggled to consistently hit those massive expectations. While the 2016 sequel in San Francisco saw a stronger reception, the franchise lost its footing with Legion, which experimented with a ‘play as anyone’ system that failed to fully resonate with the player base.

A Mystery on the Big Screen

Beyond the gaming space, the Watch Dogs brand is also tied to an upcoming feature film. Despite production wrapping two years ago and undergoing additional reshoots last year, the project remains shrouded in mystery. With no release date and a complete lack of promotional material, the movie seems to be in as much limbo as the game series itself.

Why it matters

For fans of the series, this news serves as a definitive sign that the franchise is entering a long-term hibernation. With major competitors like Grand Theft Auto 6 looming on the horizon, Ubisoft appears to be hitting the pause button rather than rushing to compete in the open-world crime genre.

Players should not expect any new entries or major announcements for several years. Ubisoft is clearly taking the time to reassess how they can differentiate a future Watch Dogs title from a crowded market, meaning that for now, the hacking sandbox remains closed.