Watch Dogs – all the details

Features

May 26, 2014

There’s been a lot of hype surrounding Watch Dogs, and with the game finally being released for PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on 27 May 2014, our wait is nearly over.

Here are all the details we have about Watch Dogs.

If you like what you see and have not yet ordered the game, take a look at our pre-order price roundup to find the best deal.

So, just how big is Chicago?

A recently released video has shown the size of the virtual city in Watch Dogs. From what we can see, it is going to be similar in size to the main city in Grand Theft Auto 5.

Controller Layout

The Facts

The game is locked at 30 fps on the PS4 and Xbox One consoles.
The game has a 24 hour day and night cycle.
Over 70 vehicles appear in the game, including helicopters, boats, and cars. The cars cannot be customized.

NPCs

There are over 3,000 NPC character kits, so chances are you will never bump into the same-looking character twice.
Over 400 lines of dialogue have been recorded for each NPC.
Stalking a person will reveal where they live, you can then mug them when they get home.
Ubisoft says that you can go on a rampage and kill police, but it is ideal to flee when you are surrounded.
NPCs are smart, reacting to car crashes by taking photos of it or hiding under a table if you pull out your gun in a shop or restaurant.
Only two animations are recycled in the game from Assassins Creed 4: Black Flag – these are the swimming animation, and the bodies flying through the air animation.

Hacking and surviving in the game world

Watch Dogs is set in a dense city where there is always something happening. At the end of the game you would have explored the entire map.
You can teleport to different parts of the map using safe houses.
Sleeping at a safe house will reset your reputation.
You can change the time of day in a safe house.
The wanted system is different from that of GTA – once you are wanted you remain wanted. The citizens of Chicago will remember your face and will call the police if they spot you.
The reputation system will not affect your story progression, so no matter how you approach the game the story will remain the same.
Certain hacks will only be available at certain times of the day.
Aiden’s phone has many useful apps, from ordering cars using Cars-on-Demand, to sightseeing in Chicago using an app to visit actual landmarks.
Digital Trips are mini-games that you will come across during the game. These vary from controlling a mechanical spider allowing you to cause chaos without increasing your reputation, to completing time trials by running through checkpoints.
There are mini-games to play throughout the game – poker is one of them.

What you need to know – MyGaming’s coverage of Watch Dogs

Watch Dogs won’t run at 1080p, 60fps

SA gamers can get Watch Dogs for “free”

Watch Dogs gets a hands-on test

Watch Dogs “Ultra” PC specs revealed

Watch Dogs recommended PC specs will make you cry

Videos

And to end if off, here are some of the more popular videos showing off all that is big and shiny in the game.

If you have pre-ordered, or are planning on buying, Watch Dogs, do you think it will deliver on your expectations? Let us know in the comments and forum.