Watch Dogs 2 Getting 4 Player Co-op, PVP And More For Free

Two big additions for Watch Dogs 2 are looming on the near horizon, and they’re about to add a slew of new features to the Bay Area hacker adventure, including a new DedSec Operation and expansive new multiplayer modes. The No Compromise DLC will be available on PS4 on April 18, and Xbox One and PC on May 18, adding a set of story missions that pit Marcus against the Russian mob. Meanwhile, Showd0wn, the multiplayer mode that was originally part of No Compromise, will now be available on all platforms through a free update coming on April 17. As a result, we’re announcing that No Compromise will now include new ability-granting outfits and vehicles, nonlethal weapons, and single-player time trials that weren’t originally part of the package. Here’s a look at what’s on the horizon:

What’s in the Free Update?

Pitting two pairs of players against each other, Showd0wn is an endgame challenge for experienced players. Its competitive matches come in three flavors: Steal the HDD; Doomload, a King of the Hill-style match; and Erase/Protect the Servers, a Watch Dogs twist on classic domination matches. Spread out across 15 distinct locations, these modes will flow seamlessly from one to the next, pushing you to bust out every skill you’ve learned over the course of the game with dynamic hacking, shooting, driving, and puzzle-solving challenges.

“There are two main drivers behind making Showd0wn free for all of our players,” says Watch Dogs 2’s live producer, Kris Young. “The first is that we want everyone to be able to participate and play it. We really wanted to have as many people as possible playing the mode for a better challenge, better matchmaking time and quality, and a healthier, more active community.

“The other is community feedback we’ve received since we announced the original plans,” Young says. “Our community asked for more multiplayer content, and that’s also a reason why we’ve decided to make Showd0wn accessible for free for all players, while replacing it with more single-player content in No Compromise.”

Showd0wn isn’t the only new feature being added in the free update: The drone, motocross, and eKart races are also getting multiplayer functionality complete with leaderboards, letting you test your high-speed skills against the best the community has to offer. New, randomly appearing “loot truck” events challenge you to hack an armored car while fighting off its reinforcements, and smaller additions – including new clothing items and tweaks such as a quick-swap feature for weapons – are rolled into the update as well.

You also get to carry a new, nonlethal addition to DedSec’s 3D-printed arsenal: a paintball gun, which can stun enemies, splash color across the environment, and temporarily splatter a paint effect across the screens of multiplayer opponents.

“We thought it would be a fun variation on the existing weapons that we had,” says Young. “We don’t have a lot of nonlethal weapons, just the stun gun and the WTB Stun Launcher, so we wanted to add more. And being able to have the paintball splatters around the world, or on the screen of the people you’re shooting with it, fits well with the San Francisco setting, and we’re excited to see how players leave their mark on the Bay Area.”

What’s in No Compromise?

The No Compromise DLC will be available to download for Season Pass owners, or for purchase, on April 18 for PS4 and on May 18 for Xbox One and PC, and it’ll pack in new content to replace Showd0wn. In addition to its new DedSec Operation – a multi-mission storyline addition called Moscow Gambit – it includes new single-player time trials, as well two new nonlethal weapons: the Air Shotgun (which can also move cars and other objects) and the Taser Sniper Rifle.

“By adding more weapon options for nonlethal players, we’re giving them new tools and strategies they can use to replay favorite missions, push their preferred playstyle even further, and experiment more with the Ghost style,” says Young.

No Compromise also includes three new emergency services packs, with new vehicles and outfits that let Marcus dress up as a police officer, firefighter, or paramedic, all with a DedSec twist. These aren’t purely customization items, either: Each outfit and vehicle adds a new ability that lets Marcus affect NPC behavior and do previously impossible things. We’ll have more on No Compromise very soon, and you can get a first look by tuning into our Spoiler Stream at 10AM PDT on April 13.

Watch Dogs 2 is available now on all platforms.

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