PC gamers seem to be paying the price for a crime they didn’t commit. Most of these magnificent games are turning out to be console exclusives and a good amount of titles are releasing on consoles well before their PC counterparts. Ubisoft has finally revealed the Watch Dogs 2 PC system requirements, and with these, a new and postponed release date for the PC version of the game.
Yup, you read that right, the PC release of yet another Ubisoft game has been delayed—try your level best to contain your shock. Fortunately, the extra wait won’t be that long, for some genuine shock — Watch Dogs 2 is now scheduled to release on November 29 instead of the previously mentioned November 15. It seems like the extra time will be going towards a good cause.
Though when it does release, here’s what all you’ll be needing to get right in on the action:
Minimum:
- OS: Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 (64-bit versions only)
- Processor: Intel Core i5 2400S @ 2.5 GHz, AMD FX 6120 @ 3.5 GHz
- RAM: 6GB
- Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 (2GB), AMD Radeon HD 7870 (2GB) or better
- Hard Disk Space: 50 GB
- Peripherals: Windows-compatible keyboard and mouse, Microsoft Xbox One Controller, Dual Shock 4 Controller
- Multiplayer: 256 Kbps or faster broadband connection
Recommended:
- OS: Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 (64-bit versions only)
- Processor: Intel Core i5 3470 @ 3.2GHz, AMD FX 8120 @ 3.9 GHz
- RAM: 8GB
- Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 (3GB), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 (4GB), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (3GB) or better, AMD Radeon R9 290 (4GB) or better
- Hard Disk Space: 50 GB
- Peripherals: Windows-compatible keyboard and mouse, Microsoft Xbox One controller, Dual Shock 4 controller
- Multiplayer: 256 Kbps or faster broadband connection
Ubisoft also announced several “special enhancements” that will be coming to the delayed PC edition of Watch Dogs 2, which is the explanation to why it’s taking the extra time to nail things down.
General Details
- 4K support
- Stuttering/lag framerate optimization – We employed a fix that makes all controls much more responsive and less framerate-related. We’ve optimized resource creation, GPU VRAM upload and required VRAM for the game.
- No FPS cap
- Full SLI/Crossfire support at launch
- Multiple save file support – This feature allows players to have up to three auto save slots for three separate playthroughs.
- Multi-monitor support with borderless mode and advanced settings that allow for customized placement of menu and HUD.
- Multiple windowed mode options – Windowed mode with flexible/resizable windows, multi-monitor borderless.
Improved Graphic Features
- Screen Space Reflections
- Headlight Shadows – Support for additional shadows from car headlights
- Extra Details Options – Increases the level of detail for all objects in the game, and adds more details to objects in the distance.
Improved Graphics Options
- FOV sliders
- Pixel Density sliders
- Sharpness sliders
- Ultra Textures pack available at launch
- Ambient Occlusion options: Ubisoft proprietary ambient occlusion techniques (SSBC and HMSSAO), HMSSAO
- Anti-aliasing options: TXAA, MSAA, Post Processing Anti-Aliasing options (SMAA and FXAA)
Improved Keyboard/Mouse controls
- Full adaptation with mouse and keyboard
- We’re using raw mouse input to reduce latency and use the Windows hardware cursor throughout the game without any additional signal filtering to smooth or accelerate mouse movement by default
- Advanced keyboard support – Keyboard hotkeys for every menu and app for faster access. Additionally, all hotkeys can be remapped.
- Mouse-centric UI – Any UI screen, menus or smartphone app supports full mouse interaction, so the player can finish any UI task with the mouse only. Everything is clickable and has appropriate button states.
- Toggle/Hold modes for different controls (aim, sprint, walk, inventory, etc.)
- Driving has been adapted to suit the keyboard controls, with adjustable steering sensitivity. Same goes for driving camera sensitivity and auto-centering camera behavior
Gamepad support
- On-the-fly switching between mouse and keyboard to gamepad, without any additional options, UI will just switch to gamepad mode
- Supported gamepads: Xbox 360 and Xbox One controllers, third-party XInput gamepads (everything Xbox-based), PlayStation 4 Controller. We do not officially support Direct Input gamepads, Steam controllers or game wheels.
So to cut Ubisoft some slack here, there seems to be lot of extra jazz. If the extra couple of weeks means Watch Dogs 2 comes as out smooth and stable on a wide range of hardware as we’re being told—including the really high-end stuff—then it will be time well invested. Whether it can prove itself to be more than “another stylish hacktivist yarn that refuses to follow through on its premise” remains to be seen. But baby steps, right?
