Reports suggest that Ubisoft could be reviving the Watch Dogs franchise

Reports suggest that Ubisoft may be gearing up for a revival Watch Dogs franchise with a re-release of the previous game in the series. The Watch Dogs the series first launched in 2014 with the original title, which centered on a technological vigilante in a fictionalized version of Chicago. The debut game was a great commercial success, but Watch Dogs 2 was unable to replicate the same level of impact.

In 2020, Ubisoft attempted to reignite interest in the franchise Watch Dogs Legion. Unfortunately, the game was unable to live up to the expectations of players and received a mixed response from both fans and critics. In the following years, reports began to appear online suggesting that the French publisher had canceled several projects related to the franchise and was on the way to shelve the series. Things took a turn for the worse in early 2026 when industry insider Tom Henderson suggested that Watch Dogs The IP was “completely dead” and that fans should not get their hopes up for future installments. However, it seems that the situation may have taken another unexpected turn.

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Ubisoft could revisit the Watch Dogs series with a new game

In a podcast episode with Insider Gaming, Tom Henderson spoke again about the Ubisoft franchise, claiming that the French publisher is working on a re-release Watch Dogs Legion. This new version is said to be a director's cut, which could bring additional content, a dedicated night mode, and even newly recorded motion capture sequences. However, it's still not confirmed when this re-release will actually see the light of day, how much it might cost, or in what ways it plans to expand the game's story.

It is clear that since Henderson's last report on Watch Dogswhere the franchise was stated to be dead, things have obviously changed. The Watch Dogs the macro itself is undergoing an operational overhaul, including the cancellation of several games and mass layoffs. Even if Watch Dogs franchise hasn't been doing well in recent years, it's still a recognizable AAA game. Reviving an already established IP is now a much less risky move for Ubisoft than investing in a brand new one with no existing brand awareness and fan base. What makes this news interesting is Ubisoft's decision to revisit the series Watch Dogs Legionwhich is considered by fans to be the weakest entry in the franchise. The idea of ”playing as anyone” in the game did not sit well with fans and was not able to reach the heights of its predecessors.

Character selection in Watch Dogs Legion

Another possible reason for Ubisoft's renewed interest may be the upcoming Watch Dogs film adaptation. Although the project has faced many delays, reports indicate that the project is still in active development. There is a chance that Ubisoft is preparing to match a Watch Dogs Legion re-release along with the eventual release of the film in hopes of capitalizing on the newfound attention. A similar situation has already happened with Fallout series that reignited interest in Bethesda's long-running franchise and even prompted the developer to release updates for several entries in the series.

In this context, a reissue Watch Dogs Legion may turn out to be a testing ground for gauging fan interest for the film's release. If the movie is received positively, Ubisoft could revisit the franchise with new games or even more updates to existing games. As always, it's key to take these rumors with a grain of salt, as Ubisoft still hasn't confirmed its plans for the franchise. Only time will tell if these possibilities become reality, so fans should wait for official updates from the French publisher on the future of the franchise. Still, it's comforting to know the streak may not be over.