Ubisoft Boss Says Watch Dogs Is ‘Important’ to Company’s Future, But No New Games Are Coming Anytime Soon

The CEO of Ubisoft, Yves Guillemot, told investors that Watch Dogs is an “important brand for the future,” though he gave no word on when a new entry might arrive. When asked about the franchise, Guillemot responded with a shrug wrapped in strategy talk: the IP still carries weight, but there are currently no active Watch Dogs games under development.

The franchise now stands at a turning point. A Watch Dogs movie exists, though it carries no set release date. Production on the film ended two years ago, and it underwent reshoots last year. Since then, it has barely promoted itself at all. It remains a mystery box that refuses to open.

Guillemot’s comments were reported by Game File, which noted that the CEO did not explain how Watch Dogs fits into the company’s plans beyond calling it important. He also did not confirm whether the movie is still on track. The franchise has a history of ambitious ideas and mixed receptions, and the current silence suggests Ubisoft is still figuring out where it goes from here.

Guillemot’s Exchange

Stephen Totilo at Game File reported on the exchange. When asked about the future of the Watch Dogs franchise, Guillemot responded diplomatically, calling the IP important without offering further details about what that means for players.

There is currently no Watch Dogs game being developed, so fans will not see a new title for at least several years. This marks a notable change for a franchise that previously appeared essential to Ubisoft’s plans.

Watch Dogs arrived with bold ambitions, but not without its share of mixed reactions. The game was first released in 2014, even though it had been planned to ship alongside the PS4 back in November 2013. Ubisoft positioned it as a rival to Grand Theft Auto 5, which came out in September 2013. Despite falling short of those lofty goals, Watch Dogs left its own mark on the open-world crime genre.

A sequel set in San Francisco followed two years after the original, and it was far more impressive than its predecessor. Watch Dogs: Legion arrived in 2020, promising players the power to command any NPC in the game’s world. The reaction from fans was mixed.

The franchise’s direction has remained uncertain since then. Ubisoft has expressed a desire to expand Watch Dogs, though it may now be weighing how best to distinguish itself from Grand Theft Auto 6, which is poised to reshape the genre come November.

The Movie Question

This equation’s wild card is the Watch Dogs movie. Two years ago it wrapped production, last year it had reshoots, and since then it has received no meaningful promotion at all. It does not even have a release date.

A major studio project without a release date sits in an odd spot. The absence of a set launch window leaves the film’s standing unclear. Questions about the franchise’s future have come from investors, and the lack of certainty surrounding the film only adds to that doubt.

There is no reassurance to be found in the film’s quiet. The movie stays a mystery. Fans continue to wait.

The Franchise’s Past

The game Watch Dogs first appeared in 2014, although it had been planned to come out at the same time as the PS4 in November 2013. Ubisoft promoted it as a rival to Grand Theft Auto 5, which came out in September 2013.

While many felt Watch Dogs fell short of some of its ambitions, it still made a mark on the open-world crime genre. Two years after its release, Ubisoft followed up with a much more impressive sequel set in San Francisco.

Watch Dogs: Legion followed in 2020, boasting ambitious ideas such as the ability to control any NPC in the world. Unfortunately, the game received generally mixed reception from fans.

There has been plenty of uncertainty surrounding the franchise’s future since then. Ubisoft appears to want to expand Watch Dogs further, though it might be struggling to find a way to distinguish itself from a game like Grand Theft Auto 6, which is poised to remake the genre when it arrives in November.

What Guillemot Actually Said

Guillemot’s comments were brief. He called Watch Dogs “important” for the company’s future but did not explain why. He did not confirm whether the movie is still on track. He did not say when a new game might arrive.

The key points from his exchange:

• He called Watch Dogs an “important brand for the future”
• He did not explain how the IP fits into Ubisoft’s plans
• He confirmed there are no Watch Dogs games in active development
• He did not address the movie’s release date

It stands as a declaration of purpose with no scheme appended to it.

The Road Ahead

Fans are frustrated because a franchise that once appeared central to Ubisoft’s strategy now seems lost at sea. The CEO insists the intellectual property still matters, yet the company has no plans to build new games at this time.

There is no word on whether the film has a release date set. Its absence from public announcement has led some to wonder about its standing. The quiet around it stands out.

A familiar formula returns: a promising concept, an uneven response, and a search for something fresh. The original Watch Dogs failed to meet its own lofty expectations. Its successor, however, made a stronger showing. The series is now attempting to find a new path forward.

It’s uncertain what comes next for Watch Dogs. More games in the series could arrive eventually, but they won’t be showing up any time soon, at least not within the next few years.

The studio has yet to settle on where it wants to steer the series next. The film’s plot remains a secret. The audience continues to wait.

Source material: “Ubisoft Boss Says Watch Dogs Is 'Important' to Company's Future, But Don't Expect Any New Entries Anytime Soon,” IGN.

game industry · movie · Ubisoft · video games · Watch Dogs