Watch Dogs 2
- Developer: Ubisoft
- Publisher: Ubisoft
- Year: 2016
- Genre: Shooter Adventure
- Platform/s: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Watch Dogs 2 features subtle (and imperfect) representation of queer characters through sidequests and dialogue. For instance, the game features a transwoman; however, concern has been expressed that this character is voiced by a cis man.
There are pride flags visible throughout the city and the queer population of San Fransisco has not been hidden. Same-gender couples hold hands and cuddle in public, and the protagonist can choose to wear a 'pride' shirt. There is an instance where you can offer a lift to a man who is hurrying to meet his husband at hospital, as their surrogate is about to give birth; these moments help to make the world of Watch Dogs 2 seem less heteronormative, even if the game does feel disconnected from real issues facing the contemporary queer community.
Other instances of queerness in the game includes the information about characters that can appear when hacking, such as 'asexual', 'in a polyamorous relationship', and 'saving for gender reassignment surgery'. These info grabs can also include 'nudles: how to talk to girls' and 'nudles: how to talk to guys' for masculine and feminine NPCs, and some info grabs also refer to NPCs as having recently come out of the closet. These can also reference NPCs using gay hookup apps on their devices.
One of the sights in the city that the player is encouraged to find and photograph is of a 'drag queen doorman'. There are also references (some mocking) to BDSM and furries (as well as references to criminal sexual practices, and these references alongside each other could be read as problematic).
