'Watch Dogs 2' release date, news: San Fransisco setting seen in new trailer

A promotional image for "Watch Dogs 2" Ubisoft

Getting closer to its release, Ubisoft reveals more details about its upcoming sequel, "Watch Dogs 2." A new trailer video was released, showcasing the game's next real-world location, San Francisco.

The new trailer video is now live, and it highlights some of the improvements that the developer featured in the game. It was already revealed that Ubisoft ditched the "tower lock" gameplay for "Watch Dogs 2," and the video footage showcases that. Even if the in-game locations are quite similar to its real-world counterparts, the in-game San Francisco looks more open-world, as the map-clearing template for the franchise has been replaced with an improved progression system. This means that players are likely to explore more of the map than concentrate on finding towers to hack and areas to unlock.

Senior Producer Dominic Guay believes that the fresh approach greatly improves "Watch Dogs 2." The studio executive tells Eurogamer: "In Far Cry, in Watch Dogs, in Assassin's... it works - but we felt we wanted a structure which rewarded players for exploring the world instead of a structure where you got the feeling you needed to scrub the icons from the map. You feel like that's your only job, and yet humans don't work that way."

There are also new features for the players to explore. One noted improvement is the addition of new co-op gameplay, where players can team up to complete side or main missions or go out against each other in a revamped PvP campaign.

However, even if there are design changes, some of the gameplay mechanics remain similar. In the sequel, players take on the role of another hacker, Marcus Holloway. The story closely follows the events of the first game, as Holloway is booted out of Blume and hired by hack group DedSec.

"Watch Dogs 2" will roll out on Nov. 15 for the Xbox One and PS4. The PC version launch has been delayed to Nov. 29.

News
Francis Chan apologises for past endorsements of fallen ministry leaders
Francis Chan apologises for past endorsements of fallen ministry leaders

Pastor and New York Times–bestselling author Francis Chan has issued a public apology acknowledging that his past endorsements of Mike Bickle and other Christian leaders who were later disgraced by scandal contributed to confusion, hurt and broken trust within the Church.

What we can learn from Mary of Bethany
What we can learn from Mary of Bethany

Dear reader, what would it look like for you to be a Mary of Bethany in this day and age?

Why the world needs more women like Dullari
Why the world needs more women like Dullari

In the UK, gender equality conversations often focus on pay gaps or female representation in leadership, but in Nepal the struggle is far more basic. It is whether a girl can go to school, whether a woman can seek medical care without permission from her husband, and whether she can live in her own home without fear.

Fresh drive to reach 100,000 girls with anti-trafficking programme
Fresh drive to reach 100,000 girls with anti-trafficking programme

An international charity has committed to reaching 100,000 girls worldwide who are at risk of human trafficking.