Watch_Dogs sets Ubisoft record for first day sales

We’re still working on our review of Watch_Dogs, but even without it, Ubisoft’s open-world hacker adventure seems to be doing alright so far. In fact, the game has apparently set an Ubisoft record for first day sales — although no figures were provided.

Either way, even after the delay, that’s great news for the company and the inevitable sequel.

Read on for the announcement.

Today, Ubisoft announced that Watch Dogs sold through more copies in its first 24 hours of availability than any previous title in the company?s history*.

Players were understandably eager to get their hands on Watch Dogs, one of the most anticipated and critically-acclaimed titles of 2014. Reviews praised Watch Dogs? hacking gameplay, breadth of content, seamless nature and the depth of the open-world experience. Notable reviews included the following:

• “Original and compelling gameplay, intelligent level design and immersion guaranteed.? ² ? Jeuxvideo.com, 18 out of 20
• ?It?s huge, diverse and intricately detailed.? ? ? IGN, 8.4 out of 10
• ?Watch Dogs was so well received at E3 2012 not for its looks, but what it promised: a truly new way to play open-world games in which the concept of agency extends beyond choosing where to go and what to do next. And whether you?re on foot, behind the wheel or in combat, Watch Dogs delivers on that promise.? ? ? Edge, 8 out of 10
• ?Impressive.? 4? The Escapist, 9 out of 10

Ubisoft?s co-founder and CEO Yves Guillemot weighed in on Watch Dogs? early success, saying, ?Watch Dogs is an amazing achievement and our teams should be proud that the creativity, innovation and long hours they invested in making this game are paying off. It?s great to see so many players enjoying the game, and it shows that Watch Dogs has cracked the code for developing a new blockbuster IP and a thoroughly new-gen experience.?

Watch Dogs is set in Chicago and lets players become Aiden Pearce, a brilliant hacker seeking justice following a violent family tragedy. Pearce hacks into Chicago?s Central Operating System (ctOS), which controls the city?s infrastructure (security cameras, traffic lights, public transportation and more) as well as key data on the city?s residents. The game uses the all-new Disrupt game engine to deliver stunning visuals and an incredibly immersive world.

For more information about Watch Dogs, please visit the official website, Facebook page and Twitter account.