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
Hoffmann2744d 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.

DarthZoolu2743d 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.

ziggurcat2743d ago (Edited 2742d 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.

Muzikguy2743d ago

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

LamerTamer2743d ago (Edited 2743d 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.

Chug2743d 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.

yeahokwhatever2742d 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.

CrimzonRazor2742d 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

Inzo2742d 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.

morganfell2742d 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.

S2Killinit2742d ago

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

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 2742d ago
kevnb2743d 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.

freshslicepizza2743d 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.

Muzikguy2743d ago (Edited 2743d 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.

zerocarnage2742d ago

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

Goldby2740d 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 2740d ago
TimelessDbz2743d 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...

yeahokwhatever2742d 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.

kraenk122742d ago

The game objectively is better in almost every regard.

yeahokwhatever2742d 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.

Kokyu2742d 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.

2742d ago
+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 2740d ago
-Foxtrot2744d ago

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

Lennoxb632743d 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.

Angerfist2743d 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

Muzikguy2743d ago (Edited 2743d 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

zb1ftw7772742d 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.

vickers5002742d 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_One2742d 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.

kraenk122742d 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 2742d ago
Kaneki-Ken2743d 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.

kraenk122743d ago

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

ziggurcat2743d 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.

AnubisG2742d 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.

Kokyu2742d ago

No they dont. Hispter is wide generic term man.

ziggurcat2742d ago (Edited 2742d 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 2742d ago
kraenk122743d ago

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

ziggurcat2743d ago (Edited 2743d 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.

Inzo2742d ago

"most people"? Sales says otherwise.

TimelessDbz2743d ago (Edited 2743d ago )

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

Kaneki-Ken2742d 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.

ziggurcat2743d 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.

ProgressiveLiberal2743d ago

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

yeahokwhatever2742d 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."

Ryasha2743d 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.

LamerTamer2743d ago (Edited 2743d 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.

yeahokwhatever2742d ago (Edited 2742d ago )

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

OpieWinston2742d 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.

cberg252742d 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.

AcidDvl2742d 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 2742d ago
Germany72744d 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.

AcidDvl2742d ago (Edited 2742d 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.

alfcrippinjr2743d 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

2743d ago
xDealtwithIt2743d 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.

Muzikguy2743d ago (Edited 2743d ago )

Visual downgrades are a lie too btw

LamerTamer2742d ago (Edited 2742d 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.

kevnb2743d ago (Edited 2743d ago )

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

ziggurcat2743d ago

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

xDealtwithIt2743d ago

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

kevnb2743d ago (Edited 2743d 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.

Muzikguy2743d 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 2742d ago
xDealtwithIt2743d ago (Edited 2743d 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?

xDealtwithIt2742d ago

No one can just enjoy a game?

yeahokwhatever2742d ago

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

WellyUK2742d ago (Edited 2742d ago )

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

Profchaos2742d 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)
130°

Why is Steam Blocked in Vietnam? Government Shares Reason

Finally, the Vietnamese government has officially responded to Steam being blocked in the country.

Read Full Story >>
spieltimes.com
blacktiger6h ago

AMAZING! Thank You Gabe, stand for freedom of speech!!!!

PRIMORDUS6h ago

VPN to buy games, fuck that if it's allowed or not, or just use a VPN and torrent what you can.

250°

Take-Two CEO Doesn’t Think AI Will Reduce Employment or Dev Costs; “Stupidest Thing” He’s Heard

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick doesn't think AI will reduce employment or lower development costs, and calls it "stupidest thing" he's ever heard.

lodossrage1d 13h ago (Edited 1d 13h ago )

They already have AI trained to do coding.......

How he thinks it's stupid is beyond me, Especially since we see it happening in real time.

CS71d 10h ago

Company A has 300 employees and lays of 200 to replace them with AI to release the same quality game.

Company B has 300 employees and keeps all 300 but instead uses AI to release a game with dramatically larger scale, scope, complexity, short dev cycle etc.

Company B would release a dramatically better product by using humans + AI and consumers would buy the better game.

I actually agree with this concept.

Huey_My_D_Long1d 10h ago (Edited 1d 10h ago )

This is key facet. Its how the AI is used. It's actually is impressive as is and really would make an amazing addition to alot of people in their jobs, not just tech. It also has the potential for businesses to use to lay off large amounts of people, as much as they could to save money on labor. I hope too many companies don't go with the latter. But since usually companies are worried about bottom line over people...we will see some try and hopefully fail. But yeah, if its to help workers like in your company B scenario I'm totally down...Just scared Company A may be too enticing to some ceos and businesses.

Darkegg1d 10h ago

Value of AI and value of humans will both be increased with human-AI complex. Each, by themselves, will not be independently better than the other. Whether AI will ever be independent from humans is the fear question of humans, ironically because of our doing. At this stage, most of the doing is because of humans, not because of AI. AI is doing exactly that by our design, until we have failed ourselves with an AI development that went awry. The biggest take is that humans have only ourselves to blame when things become wrong, and we have to decide what is the ultimate goal with AI we want to accomplish. It would take a person with high morals and high ethics to make right of AI. I would not want businessman to decide what AI should do or what capabilities it can have. AI should be in the hands of people with high moral fiber, or those operating on love, kindness, and compassion.

BlackOni1d 9h ago

AI is SUPPOSED to be used as a tool, not a replacement. It's designed to do two important things artists can take advantage of immediately.

- Make the ideation/reference imaging process much quicker and easier (basically using it as a google search)
- Make mundane and time consuming tasks faster and easier so more time is spent on creation.

Unfortunately, what many have done is used it as a way to replace rather than supplement.

Einhander19721d 6h ago (Edited 1d 6h ago )

CS7

In the ideal world yes.

In the real world where companies have shown little desire to innovate and spent every effort to maximize profits the end result will be the same quality games (if were lucky) made by less people and more AI.

Company Real World: Fires 200 people and makes the same game cheaper using AI and the executives get record bonuses.

Edit:

Lets look at history, specifically auto manufacturing.

In the 70's and 80's the auto unions tried to oppose automation of jobs (robots) stating that they would take peoples jobs. And the people in charge who wanted to make more money said the exact same types of things that are being said about AI. But we can look at history and see that countless types of jobs were in fact replaced by automation, that was of course even compounded upon by computers.

The net effect was that the rich got richer less jobs were needed so wages were forced down by competition for the jobs that were left.

hombreacabado12h ago

that concept works in the initial beginning phase of AI but once AI learns and surpasses the knowledge and coding expertise of even the best human employee than this CEO will no longer need competent humans in that line of work.

Extermin8or3_10h ago

@Hue_My£D_Long

Yes but that is a choice then by massively increased productivity and this greater income and wealth and stagnating with similar levels of productivity and output and not creating much wealth. Usually the option that creates wealth prevails because a rising tide raises all ships.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 10h ago
Number1TailzFan1d 10h ago

You can already make your own SFX with text prompts now as well, of course it will lower development cost and time

1Victor1d 10h ago (Edited 1d 10h ago )

WARNING WARNING ‼️ SARCASM AHEAD
Sure Strauss and robots didn’t take jobs from car factories.
Edit:Sad thing is he believes it and unfortunately he won’t be replaced for a long time by AI

senorfartcushion1d 8h ago (Edited 1d 8h ago )

He doesn't, he's just lying. These people lay people off so they can get bonuses. If AI takes jobs, their bonus goes bigger and the workforce goes smaller.

porkChop1d 6h ago

Because he sees AI as a tool to aid development. He wants to use AI to help make bigger and better games in the same timeframe. Other CEOs want to replace devs with AI to cut costs and make lifeless games faster for a quick buck. Strauss has the right idea, this is how AI should be used. To extend and expand the capabilities of devs.

neutralgamer199211h ago

There will be few companies who will go overboard and try to replace their employees with AI tech. The ones that will make the most money will be the ones that utilize ai, along with their employee talent, to make the best product possible

AI could handle some of the most time consuming processes. To expediate the development, so in return, costing the publisher's last money end time.

Extermin8or3_10h ago

Not reliably they haven't. Coding done by ai is generally abysmal for all but the most generic tasks.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 10h ago
jambola1d 12h ago

Ceo says stupid thing
Part 5837384

Zeref1d 11h ago (Edited 1d 11h ago )

I think maybe sometimes we give people in these positions too much credit when it comes to intelligence.

DarXyde15h ago

I think you mean candor, not intelligence.

If you take him to mean what he's saying at face value, sure.

I don't. And I think he's clearly lying.

romulus231d 11h ago

As long as it doesn't effect his inflated executive salary or his ridiculous bonuses I'm sure he's fine with it.

RNTody1d 10h ago

Hahaha yeah trust the CEO suit over the actual developers making the games. Good one.

Show all comments (37)
100°

Every PlayStation Studios game available now on Windows PC

Windows Central writes: "Many PlayStation Studios games that are ported to PC get dedicated PS5 DualSense support, which allows users to experience haptic feedback and adaptive trigger support without actually having to own a PS5.

According to Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation Studios, it's still the company's intent to launch the bigger single-player games on PS5 first, before later bringing the games to PC. This might not be the case for multiplayer games however, which are considered okay to launch simultaneously on console and PC."

Read Full Story >>
windowscentral.com
ocelot072d ago

My guess is after god of war. Probably last of us 2 that's a almost 4 year old game now and by the time it's released on pc it will be more than 4 years old or close to 5.

Elda2d ago

Every old Playstation game that is now on PC.

shinoff21832d ago

Right. I definitely see what a headlined from a website named windows central was trying to do though. It's cute little wordplay to help out the green box

Flewid6382d ago

Are PlayStation games no longer good or worth playing once they are old?

Elda2d ago

I'm guessing my comment went over your head.

XiNatsuDragnel2d ago

Good at least they can sell hardware