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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

The Tech Deck

This week’s free game: “Watch Dogs 2” (with some caveats)

Watch Dogs 2, released in 2016, solved many of the problems of its predecessor by making its characters more likeable and adding freedom to the open world action and stealth gameplay. (Flickr)
Watch Dogs 2, released in 2016, solved many of the problems of its predecessor by making its characters more likeable and adding freedom to the open world action and stealth gameplay. (Flickr)

Are you a gamer? Do you like free things? Of course you do!

We here at the Tech Deck are just like you: poor gamers looking for cheap entertainment. And nothing's cheaper than cost-free gaming. Each week, we'll bring you a title (or two or three) you can legally play at home without plopping down a single dollar. If you see games you think we should be featuring on the blog, email us at kiph@spokesman.com.

Ubisoft continues to churn out free games from its back catalog, and its most recent announcement has me salivating. Even if you have to jump through some hoops to get it.

As part of the unveiling for new title Watch Dogs: Legion, expected for release later this year, Ubisoft will be giving away free copies of Watch Dogs 2 on PC. In order to qualify, you'll need to sign up for a UPlay account online (they're free) and tune in to a live stream announcement about the new game on Saturday, July 11. In the Pacific Time Zone, the show will take place between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Click below to set up a UPlay account and grab some details about the stream!

Click here for details on how to get a free copy of Watch Dogs 2!

I played the original Watch Dogs back in the summer of 2014 (!) and gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars. It provided an interesting sandbox to play in, but its protagonist, Aiden Pearce, might as well have been a fish sandwich in a trenchoat. The follow-up DLC, "Bad Blood," helps correct some of those errors, but it was Watch Dogs 2's decision to amp up the humor and freedom that set it apart. 

The game is an open world action and stealth title that puts you in the shoes of a skilled hacker. Armed with your smartphone, you can hack multiple systems within the game to your stealth or combat advantage. The mechanic builds upon the driving, shooting and exploring that are typical of open-world games since the release of Grand Theft Auto 3 two decades ago, but Watch Dogs 2's cast of characters and freedom should provide dozens of hours of escapism fun.

What's your favorite open-world game? Excited for Watch Dogs: Legion? Check back soon for another free game!



Kip Hill
Kip Hill joined The Spokesman-Review in 2013. He currently is a reporter for the City Desk, covering the marijuana industry, local politics and breaking news. He previously hosted the newspaper's podcast.

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