Ubisoft’s The Watch Enters Alpha on Epic Games Store

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2 months ago

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Real-time strategy game The Watch, which draws inspiration from MOBAs, is now available for play in public alpha on the Epic Games Store. Playing the PC game, which was made by Ubisoft, is free. It blends real-time strategy gameplay and competitive action with aspects from well-known free-to-play online games. Additionally, the game incorporates blockchain technology to provide players with a novel kind of gaming experience.

About The Watch

The Watch takes place in a ruined sci-fi world where a military experiment by Watch Corp goes wrong. AI becomes sentient and threatens humanity. The game positions players in a world where they must work together to protect themselves and others from the AI. Although the game focuses on PvP battles, players also participate in global objectives. The story unfolds in episodes, with the first one introducing players to the game’s resistance forces. Future episodes promise more complex objectives and deeper story development. Players will also influence the game’s narrative by voting on decisions that impact the plot.

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Before starting a match, players configure their armies and select their powers. Each player has five army slots to fill with different types of troops. These troops range from melee to ranged units, each with its own purpose and energy cost. For instance, the Sniper unit is perfect for dealing high, long-range damage, while the Zero unit is ideal for quick scouting. The game also offers heavy tank units and standard ranged troops, providing a wide variety of strategies.
Powers are abilities that can be activated during gameplay for a tactical advantage. These include Nano Bullets, which send a heavy strike from the sky, and Healing Cells, which create areas where units recover health. Players can equip up to six powers, one passive bonus, and one ultimate ability called the Glitch.

Gameplay and Mechanics

The game’s main mode is Competitive, where players compete in 1v1 PvP matches. The objective is to destroy the opponent's Core, which is protected by shields and mobile turrets. Players control two mobile turrets that automatically move around specific parts of the map. Instead of base-building, players spawn units using energy, which recharges over time. Capturing turret platforms increases energy capacity, allowing players to deploy more units.
After 20 minutes, a boss called the Prism spawns, offering passive buffs to whichever player defeats it. Dropzones also appear, providing buffs or causing explosions, making for unpredictable gameplay.

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Units level up by killing enemy units, starting at level 1 and going up to level 4. As units gain levels, their stats improve. The leveling system applies to all units of the same type, and players don’t lose unit levels when they die. This encourages players to engage in aggressive tactics without worrying about losing progress during the match.

The game rewards players with Social Credits for winning matches. These credits can unlock new powers. Shards, a premium currency, can be earned or purchased and are used for buying cosmetic items like skins. Players can complete challenges to earn Weekly or Mystery Boxes containing Social Credits, Shards, or rare skins.
Each season introduces a battle pass where players earn rewards, including Social Credits and Shards. There are free rewards, but players need to upgrade their battle pass for premium prizes. The upgrade costs 1200 Shards, which can be purchased for $9.99.

Currently, The Watch doesn’t have web3 features integrated into its gameplay, though it’s expected to introduce blockchain mechanics later. An Alpha Championship is set to go live soon, offering rewards up to $1000 USD. While there are no play-to-earn mechanics in the game yet, future updates may include NFT assets like Units, Powers, and cosmetics. These updates are expected to roll out in Q4 of this year, with more details on blockchain integration to follow.