750°

Has Ubisoft killed off Watch Dogs 2?

Scott from PixelGamer writes "Has Watch Dogs 2 been a flop from Ubisoft Sales would suggest this but is Watch Dogs 2 a victim of Ubisoft mismanagement?"

Read Full Story >>
pixelgameruk.com
Hoffmann2699d ago

Its just that tje first one was overhyped and they used a giant marketing budget for it while it was not that great. There are more than enough other good and more interesting looking games on the market.

DarthZoolu2697d ago

Ubisoft has been selling broken games for so long and people didn't go for it this time. Gamers buy from companies they have faith in overall.

ziggurcat2697d ago (Edited 2697d ago )

This one isn't broken, though...

@lamertamer:

Broken = unplayable. Fixing rare crashes or minor graphics issues != broken.

@inzo:

Yeah, I get that, which is why I said *this one* wasn't broken.

Muzikguy2697d ago

Unless they get stuck on something like COD, which finally looks to be tapering off a little

LamerTamer2697d ago (Edited 2697d ago )

@ziggurcat

It is broken. If it needs a patch, it is broken. Yes almost all games are broken these days but that doesn't make it right. Woe to those who don't have internet or don't have a fast connection.

Chug2697d ago

I personally think Ubisoft is a joke of a company. All the bullshit trailers they've showed off as opposed to the final product they release put me off from them probably permanently.

The last straw was The Division Beta. What a blatantly bad, tasteless game that was.

Sorry if I offended anyone that likes their stuff, this is just my opinion.

yeahokwhatever2697d ago

@ziggurcat
"broken game" is used to describe games in many ways. WD2 is "broken" in the game design choices made. You can literally have gangs and cops play the entire game for you from very early in the game. I completed the game and there were basically only a handful of times where the answer wasn't simply 1. summon cops or gangs. 2. Walk calmly to the end goal with 0 resistance then hold square. The driving is "broken" because the physics are terrible, inconsistent, sloppy, and awful. You can crash into an intersection while driving a sports car. I'm not talking about other cars in the intersection. No, I'm talking about just running into the intersection itself. The road. Driving is half the game. It's broken. The story is "broken" because instead of there being a story, there is a hard-leftist narrative (which I guess is fitting for the bay area) where you play as a self-righteous terrorist and kill hundreds of people and do billions in property damage to serve your own form of justice tor a CEO for cheating in elections. There are many good things about the game, but part of the game was literally unplayable for launch(seamless MP), and there are a ton of blaring weaknesses with the quality of the game throughout. Wait for a steep sale or redbox it if you've "got to at least try it". WD1 was a lot of fun and just a better experience, though the world and graphics in WD2 are much better.

CrimzonRazor2697d ago

@ziggurcat but it was broken at release the seamless multiplayer was broke, I dont pre order any ubi games anymore. I wait to see what is broken now before buying their games you have to with them

Inzo2697d ago

@Ziggurcat

I dont think that is the point that Darth is making. WD2s failure is a result of the previous broken games Ubisoft released.

morganfell2697d ago

"...kill hundreds of people and do billions in property damage to serve your own form of justice"

Its called God of War. And a hundred other games plenty of people like me enjoy. Look at the collateral damage that ensues in numerous games. Actions taken with no thought to the public. I claimed to be freeing people in Just Cause games but I killed a lot of civilians.

I was highly critical of WD2 when it was announced. But the game actually has a great deal to do, plenty of side missions, some hilarious moments, it doesn't take itself too serious, solid mechanics (great motorcycle handling for once) and they addressed many of the issues from the original.

It isn't leftist to want mega corporations and governments to stop using your personal data and observing your every move. In fact that is actually a more right wing point of view that feels the less oversight, the less government (a Jeffersonian point of view), the more privacy and a less globalist approach is better. Obama increased domestic spying far more than any President and he is liberal. And a globalist. So the entire game is a mixed bag as regards politics. The game doesn't preach either side other than the pro privacy issue. It presents many people as being totally out of touch with reality...which is in fact they way many people happen to live their lives. I can show you plenty of videos on youtube of people on the street signing petitions for things like repealing the Bill of Rights because they are average citizens that have no clue what the Bill of Rights actually is. Ridiculous I know but these are the people that cast elections and decide the fate of countries.

That said Ubisoft is the worst manager of IPs in history. Ghost Recon was ruined the moment it and Redstorm was purchased. The same for Rainbow Six. Splinter Cell has been all over the map with Blacklist being a step forward and a step back at the same time. Monumental errors have been made in that production. There are numerous other titles that Ubisoft has squandered.

The damage done to WD2 by its predecessor is far reaching. And the poorly handled announcement of WD2 that skewed the game as a hipster title added to the speed at which the title plowed into the runway. It is a shame since much of the game is quite good. Something people discover when they stop reading forums and start playing.

S2Killinit2697d ago

Im sensing a character assassination of Ubisoft, whats up with that?

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 2697d ago
kevnb2697d ago

They want to sell as many copies of every game as they can, overhyped is a stupid term. Regardless, watchdogs 2 is a sequel to a game people didn't think was all that great.

freshslicepizza2697d ago

so sony, nintendo and microsoft dont overhype their games? and just because the first one wasn't so hot doesn't mean this will be just average. look at how well a few assassins creed games were better than the first one. people continue to ride the ubisoft hatebandwagon and its becoming comical when they do make good games as well.

Muzikguy2697d ago (Edited 2697d ago )

Stupid term because you don't understand how hype works? Overhype is exactly what happened with the original Watch Dogs.

@moldy

The Ubisoft hate is justified. I'm not buying any of their games for the rest of this gen. Started with Watch Dogs. Then the Crew. Then how they butchered Rainbow 6. The Division wasnt great either. The beta had me excited at first but no. It's like their fascination with "always online" has clouded their creative vision. All those games should've been way better than what we got IMO. Should I care or be worried I'll miss a gem or 2 by not buying Ubisoft games? No way! There are far better games out there to play IMO.

zerocarnage2697d ago

I liked 1st game, it was aa very good first try at open world other than creed games.

Goldby2695d ago

@Muzik

Ya Division and upcoming Wildlands shouldn't have had/have the Tom Clancy Name attached to it, could have been their opwn ips off the bet.

on top of that, 'Ubisofts new finiancal plan is about turning everything into Services instead fo Products so expect IOnline only for alot of their upcoming games. i just hope they learn to keep the new AC offline always.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 2695d ago
TimelessDbz2697d ago

I can assure that statement you just made while it's a opinion but this game is a blast to play. So much better then the first one. Like playing saints row 3 but better
http://psnprofiles.com/trop...

yeahokwhatever2697d ago

WD1 was actually a pretty damn good game when it launched. One of Ubi's best offerings in a while. It got far too much hate. WD2 is a mess and I hate that I bought it.

kraenk122697d ago

The game objectively is better in almost every regard.

yeahokwhatever2697d ago

Instead of using words like "objectively" to try to make your opinion sound more important, you could give examples of why, in your opinion, a given feature is better. You also would have to define what "better" actually means for each case as well, since "better" itself is neither objective nor subjective. In a couple of other comments I've expressed why I believe WD1 is the "better" offering. WD2 has a lot of flaws that are hard to overlook once the initial "wow" factor wears down from the impressive world they built, both graphically and interactively. For me, the first play session of WD2 felt incredible and a huge improvement from WD1. By halfway, WD1 was the better game and WD2 was showing its ugly side. Thats my opinion.

Kokyu2697d ago

I played this for about 20hrs. It just isnt different enough from say GTAV now. I honestly dont see any reason to keep making sequals for this franchise.

2697d ago
+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 2695d ago
-Foxtrot2699d ago

Was their own fault for making it into some hipster shit and changing the more serious tone from the first game.

Lennoxb632697d ago

I'm more concerned about the fact that people are passing up on games because of what the character's are wearing. Not the quality of the game. It's not like they're cross dressing or anything so I don't see the problem.

Angerfist2697d ago

I think its not about what the Character is wearing, but the Environment of San Francisco probably being created too realistic. They probably release a Safe Space DLC too. From what ive seen the Game looks gorgeous, has better Gameplay. I think i get it once its cheaper as i just got so many Games on Black Friday

Muzikguy2697d ago (Edited 2697d ago )

People buy into what they relate to and or can associate themselves with. It's not that hard to understand why that is. Same with how the "new" DmC went. The tone and mood of a game are extremely important and to change that would definitely change a person's view on a game they might otherwise buy

zb1ftw7772697d ago

Single player games are story driven and character driven.

It is very important to get these two things correct.

Hipster millenial might not bother you, but it bothers me.

How would you like to play this exact same game but with a purple unicorn who has 10 legs and 20 eyes and his friends are little vikings with 7 arms?

It would be stupid wouldnt it.

Thats how i feel playing a hipster millenial with his friends. I feel its stupid.

vickers5002697d ago

Yep, same reason I haven't even looked at a review for it, despite enjoying the first.

Has little to do with what they're wearing and everything with their attitude and tone. Deslin from infamous second son LOOKED like a total hipster before the game came out, but acted like a totally normal guy excited about having powers. I enjoyed that game despite the hipster clothing.

I cringed every time emote mask asshole showed up in the gameplay videos,or when the protagonist sits cross legged during gun fights to bring out his laptop with a drone, or when he says whatever stupid line he says when he puts in ear buds and is about to steal/hack/murder an entire buildings worth of people.

Doesn't take it seriously, just has this "doing it for the lulz" vibe like it's just some game to him. Erases any sense of tension or realism. And they try to disguise it as if it's somehow "cool" or "funny", when it's really just a pathetic attempt at grown ups doing their best young person impression.

UnHoly_One2697d ago

I've played it and I have to say the first game was far better in every conceivable way.

And a lot of it DOES have to do with the location and the characters. The story is barely there and terrible.

It's just a bad game all around. The first one was great.

kraenk122697d ago

You guys are missing out on a great game because of your prejudices....go ahead. I first thought the characters were pretty strange first but they're actually pretty likeable.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 2697d ago
Kaneki-Ken2697d ago

I prefer the original since it was darker, serious and had story and Aiden is not that of a hypocrite like the hipster. Bring Aiden back as MC again.

kraenk122697d ago

I doubt you even played the game...it tself makes fun of the same stereotypes you're complaining about.

ziggurcat2697d ago

People here have a serious misunderstanding of what a hipster looks like because it's not really about beards, tattoos, and wayfarer glasses. Most hipsters try to look like hobos, honestly.

AnubisG2697d ago

You don't know what a hipster looks like. I lived in NYC for 17 years and just moved recently. It's full of hipsters. It's overrun. So yeah hipsters almost always have beards and tattoos (stupid meaningless tattoos) are a staple. Wayfarer glasses is another staple of the hipster outfit.

Kokyu2697d ago

No they dont. Hispter is wide generic term man.

ziggurcat2697d ago (Edited 2697d ago )

Guys, all of those things are too mainstream for hipsters. Hipsters go way out of there way to make sure what they listen to/how they dress is well outside of that.

Edit: and wayfarers haven't been a hipster thing since, like, 2004.

https://www.google.ca/amp/s...

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 2697d ago
kraenk122697d ago

I guess that's why most people actually like the game much better, huh?!

ziggurcat2697d ago (Edited 2697d ago )

I'm enjoying this one. I could do without the racing (I have always hated any of the racing in any game I've played, this one is no exception), but I am thankful that the trophy requirements for the races are just to finish one of each type. The sailboat, and drone racing is infurtiatingly awful.

I also like the online integration in this one, and the very minimal requirements for the trophies as well.

Inzo2697d ago

"most people"? Sales says otherwise.

TimelessDbz2697d ago (Edited 2697d ago )

You really are hurt they changed the tone. Don't judge a game / bandwagon if you haven't played it.

Kaneki-Ken2697d ago

I did play it bit. The game is fun for a while and is better playing with a friend. in the First game, exploring was boring while in the second is awesome since many cpu have a variety of personality and you can swim. But the story is not that strong rather is goofy just like how Saint Row 1-2 were serious game but 3-4 became fun and goofy. I buy games for darker or serious stories unless is a multiplayer game. Last time I bought a game that was just fun and goofy was Sunset Overdrive which I couldn't bother to finish the game.

ziggurcat2697d ago

Also - no hipster I know would listen to any of the music in this game... with the exception of maybe the Run the Jewels song.

ProgressiveLiberal2697d ago

So you going to comment about how much you hate hipsters on every Ubi article or what?

yeahokwhatever2697d ago

The protagonist in this game isn't a hipster, so much as an ultra-left terrorist from a made-for-tv computer hacking movie written by naive millennials to convince their friends they can be cool too. Nice little touch throwing in silly parkour moves for no apparent reason. "Oh look, my character is galloping across a rooftop like a mutant for no reason, cool."

Ryasha2697d ago

The overly serious tone and the drab, dreary city made the first game incredibly boring for me. Only thing in the first game I did like was the privacy invasion things. Seeing what weird or stupid things people were doing was entertaining but nothing else was and that made even what little fun there was boring after a while.

Shifting to a less depressing story and a more uplifting locale was definitely the right move in my eyes.

LamerTamer2697d ago (Edited 2697d ago )

The first one had more mood. This one so far is not "uplifting" it is just kind of campy from what I have played. I liked the revenge theme better, it made you want to pay those bitches back. This is like meh so far, it is like who cares about a "l337 h4xx0r" trying to join a hacking group etc. The story lacks any "punch" and just seems silly.

yeahokwhatever2697d ago (Edited 2697d ago )

Substory in this game is earning followers. I mean, come on...

OpieWinston2697d ago

Yeah I agree 100%. Turned me off the game completely.
I loved the Vigilante tone... Then they totally went in the wrong direction.

Dedsec of all things, especially since the Dedsec character in WD1 was the most annoying guy in that story.

cberg252697d ago

Honestly, the 'hipster shit' is the main redeeming factor of the game. The first Watch_Dogs is tonally miserable, a grimdark noir with nothing of substance to say. It's the videogame equivalent of a bumper sticker. Aiden Pearce might be the most unlikable leading man of the generation, surrounded by a supporting cast of inhuman sterotypes.

Say what you will about Watch_Dogs 2, but at least the characters feel human. They laugh. They joke with each other. They have an absurd aesthetic, and absolutely own it. Best of all - they make mistakes. The game doesn't treat them as modern techno gods, but rather a group of young adults that are united by a central cause. Combine that with the realistically absurd San Francisco landscape, and it's a genuinely worthwhile sequel. Tragically, the first Watch_Dogs was so god damn unpleasant - it permanently scarred a potentially great franchise.

AcidDvl2697d ago

The game has the vibe of a bad skate boarding game. Hackers don't look nothing like that, or they act like that (personality and characterization is all wrong). That's not people who devoted their life to social/computer engineering to acquire those skills, that's people who hang out at the stake park and behave like children.

They tried to appeal to the younger generation with that "cool" vibe, but truth is that no one that plays video games relates to that and the people who relate to that don't play video games.

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 2697d ago
Germany72699d ago

The first game is a huge disappointment, imo, some people were saying that would be a GTA killer, lol.
Anyway, i had the feeling that the series had potential. I still need to play WD 2.

AcidDvl2697d ago (Edited 2697d ago )

The only game that's going to top GTA V, is the next GTA game.

GTA V is miles ahead of competition on all aspects. A technical masterpiece that still kills anyone who comes close 3 years after release.

Edit:

Note: Not only 3 years ago, but also a gaming generation ago.

alfcrippinjr2697d ago

if Ubisoft lies about its games and show fake previews
to get all the hype up.

people will simply not support a games company that lies
it that easy
the consumers are paying

2697d ago
xDealtwithIt2697d ago

Ubisoft didn't lie, people just expected something else that wasn't there. I got the game I was expecting because I lowered my expectations. People just need to do their research before buying.

Muzikguy2697d ago (Edited 2697d ago )

Visual downgrades are a lie too btw

LamerTamer2697d ago (Edited 2697d ago )

They showed that E3 trailer, then downgraded the hell out of the graphics even on PC. That is a lie. I say that and I liked the first one for the most part except for the 900p downgraded graphics on PS4.

kevnb2697d ago (Edited 2697d ago )

It's a sequel nobody wanted, it's that simple.

ziggurcat2697d ago

Speak for yourself. I wanted one after I played the first game.

xDealtwithIt2697d ago

I wanted it! And it is miles better than the first.

kevnb2697d ago (Edited 2697d ago )

not saying it isnt good (have yet to play it), but its a sequel to a game that people weren't real thrilled about. Its pretty obvious Im right, look at the sales.

Muzikguy2697d ago

I wish consumers would do this more often. Many companies do lie and continue to lie but still get away with it

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 2697d ago
xDealtwithIt2697d ago (Edited 2697d ago )

I'm really enjoying Watchdogs 2. Much better than the first.

By the way this article is an opinion. Has Ubi said the game flopped?

xDealtwithIt2697d ago

No one can just enjoy a game?

yeahokwhatever2697d ago

It was a joke. I personally liked the first one, hate this one. Played through the entirety of both.

WellyUK2697d ago (Edited 2697d ago )

seems liking WD2 is against the N4G rules... Game is good. Deal with it.

Profchaos2697d ago

Yeah they have said the game didn't meet sales expectations and they were disappointed by its sales so yeah basically they have called it a flop

Show all comments (152)
60°

WayForward Director Says Nintendo Changed The Way He Looks At Making Video Games

Veteran game designer James Montagna is directing this new project and apparently has a new outlook on game design after teaming up with Nintendo

Read Full Story >>
nintendolife.com
130°

Pocketpair Studio Boss Calls Out Tencent For Developing A Palworld Clone

The game in question appears to be dubbed Auroria on Steam, which shares a plethora of similarities with Palworld.

Inverno1d 4h ago

No offense but Palworld isn't that original either, with that said… ew Tencent no thank you. I love the survival genre but all these half baked early access games have ruined the genre for me.

exputers13h ago

>Palworld isn't that original either

Can't disagree with that, but it did spin the Pokemon dynamic in a unique way, you gotta give Pocketpair that. Now by doing so, prepare for a ton of Palworld clones, both on PC and mobile.

Christopher6h ago

True, but big pocket people pushing out little pocket people is a huge problem. It's Walmart of the digital world.

Inverno6h ago

Not much that can be done though. Tencent been making clones of what's popular for a while. I don't touch anything they make, except for Don't Starve but i bought that before Klei sold themselves to the devil.

Christopher6h ago(Edited 6h ago)

@Inverno: There's a lot that can be done, actually. Just no one is willing to do it. Anti-competitive/monopoly laws literally exist for this exact reason. Governments are just letting big corporations do whatever they want.

150°

With Larian Out Of The Picture, Will The Baldur's Gate IP Be In Safe Hands?

Huzaifah from eXputer: "With Larian Studios washing their hands of the IP, what is the ultimate fate of the legendary Baldur's Gate series?"

RaidenBlack1d 6h ago

If anybody's gonna mention BioWare, then look at Archetype Entertainment, they're the new BioWare
or else
Obsidian is still a good choice but not independent anymore.

anast1d 6h ago (Edited 1d 6h ago )

No, WoTC is pivoting to mobile. They can use Larian's work to justify DnD Go and everyone will accept it.

RiseNShine1d 6h ago

Short answer, nope. Long answer, f*ck nope.

robtion12h ago

Correct answer. Most people don't realise that the companies that are still making good games using common sense and a customer focus are generally not American. They are from Poland, Belgium, Japan, or other countries that have not yet become completely corrupted by 'extreme capitalism'.

Before you down vote me into oblivion I am not anti-american. I just don't like greed and corruption which unfortunately seems to correlate with power.

I would guess the next Baldurs gate will probably be filled with GaaS.

Christopher1d 5h ago

Honestly, we're talking completely new engine and none of Larian's built-in stuff with regard to environments and the like that they had from their past divinity game. No one is going to have that just ready to go. So, they need to shop for a dev studio that has a past game that shows what they want.

Obsidian doesn't have that, maybe the closest being Dungeon Siege 3 or Pillars of Eternity, but those are very basic, not as open, very little environment related and altering capabilities. So, we're talking a step way back on what Larian delivered. Zero scene experience to line up with what was done in BG3. Okay conversation tree designs, but still needs more complexity.

inXile has Wasteland 3 as a base model engine, and I think that's better than Pillars of Eternity from Obsidian. But, still needs to be more open world, more environmental effects, and a much heavier rules set adaptation. But, not a bad overall engine as a base, but still a ton of work. Zero scene experience to line up with what was done in BG3. Needs a ton of work on that entirely.

Tactical Adventure did the Solasta game. Really good and more accurate as far as 5e rules than BG3. But, again, if the expectation is similar to what made BG3 a big hit, engine isn't designed for moving the camera, is a bit outdated in graphics, doesn't have in-game scene elements, and needs much better writers/voice actors.

Owlcat of pathfinder games is another choice, even though they've recently moved on to WH40k licensed games. Again, though, the engine is the biggest issue here to match up, but it's a much better option overall than Tactical Adventure. Another question is writers/story telling, as much of their overall story telling bits are very limited with a lot of random worldbuilding elements that are just +\- of some attributes.

TBH, no matter who takes over, it's just not going to be like BG3 much like how BG3 isn't at all like BG1/2. And BG3 was so successful because of how much Larian was able to put in with their engine and how focused they were on players having ridiculous control over the story being told. I just don't see the next BG being the same and depending on what it is, it might be good but I'm not as big of a reach as BG3. It's way more likely players are going to go into BG4 (or its spiritual successor if it moves away from Baldur's Gate and into Neverwinter or something like Plansescape) expecting much of what is in BG3 with more options, new and older characters, and the same level of control over what they're doing. If it doesn't have that, regardless of who makes it, it won't be as successful, IMHO.

exputers13h ago

Yes, I completely concur.

As good and talented as inXile and Obsidian are in their own specific way of making their particular games, none of them have Larian's attention to detail, dynamic worlds, and reactivity, so even if they end up making a new Baldur's Gate, it's going to be a significant step-down in terms of gameplay if not narrative.

CrimsonWing691d 5h ago

Probably not, but maybe… just maybe…

Show all comments (8)