Watch Dogs trailer from the Ubisoft E3 2012 Press Conference

Written by Howard Gorman on June 06, 2012

Watch Dogs E3 2012 News: Who watches the Watch Dogs? You, of course. Check out the YouTube trailer of Watch Dogs now.

The Watch Dogs trailer hit YouTube shortly after it was announced at the Ubisoft E3 2012 Press Conference and audience lapped it up like, well, like dogs. Despite stellar graphics and groundbreaking special effects, it's coming to a current generation console near you. That's right, Watch Dogs is for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

The game has been in development for 2 years and injects a breath of fresh air into the sequel, prequel, and trilogy-filled gaming market. I had taken it for granted that Ubisoft would be rounding its E3 2012 conference out with Assassin's Creed 3. As soon as that game was swiftly followed by the ashamedly mediocre ShootMania Storm, I didn't know where Ubisoft would be taking us next. That was, until we all got treated to a brand new IP. Boy, had I been barking up the wrong tree.

Watch Dogs is being developed by Ubisoft Montreal, renowned for such franchises as Assassin's Creed, Rainbow 6 and Far Cry. Having said that, this bears no resemblance to any of the aforementioned. The game is set in Chicago, with you playing Aiden Pearce, best described as an ?on-the-fly hacker? who can tap into the entire world's computer networks, using them to his advantage. The gameplay showcased at the E3 2012 press conference saw the protagonist block all mobile phone signals in his vicinity, control traffic-lights, hack into a network of security cameras and search databases for people's personal details. Ubisoft Creative Director Jonathan Morin described the game as going ?beyond the limits of today's open-world games by giving players the ability to control an entire city? where ?anything connected to the city's Central Operating System becomes a weapon." To help you navigate these ?powers,? you are alerted by means of virtual signposts that had me thinking of Heavy Rain, Syndicate and Splinter Cell: Conviction.

Innovative gameplay wasn't the only feature that left the auditorium speechless. The game's visuals were nothing short of astounding with some amazing production values to boot. From light effects, rainfall the movement of Pearce's trench coat all showcase how Ubisoft have really given all their attention to the finest of details. Although the game was played on an Xbox 360 controller during the presser, no actual information was provided as to which platforms the game would run on. This was swiftly cleared up, though, as Ubisoft has now confirmed the game will be released on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. No Watch Dogs release date was revealed, but we won't have to hold our breath too long, as the game is heading to all current generation platforms.

Morin laid down the gauntlet, stating ?we can provide players with action and access to information on a scale that's never been seen in a videogame before." Quite a bold statement to make for sure, but I'm 99% certain Ubisoft may have just announced a coveted game of the show crown contender. Watch Dogs one of the most groundbreaking new games we've seen at E3 2012. Let's face it, a game where "Every citizen's darkest secrets will be at your fingertips? makes us want to keep an eye out for every morsel of new information.