Ubisoft is expanding its video game franchises into animated television series, including adaptations of Watch Dogs and Far Cry. The projects target younger audiences and feature creative twists on the original games. A notable collaboration involves producer Adi Shankar for a Blood Dragon-inspired show.
Ubisoft, the French video game publisher, is venturing beyond gaming with several animated TV projects based on its popular franchises. According to a report in The Hollywood Reporter, the company is developing content aimed primarily at children and teenagers.
One upcoming special is for the Rabbids Invasion series, set on Mars, continuing the chaotic adventures of the mischievous rabbits. Additional series are in the works for the Rayman platformer franchise and the mobile title Hungry Shark.
The Watch Dogs adaptation stands out as a 'cybermystery' targeted at teens. It centers on a teenage hacker at Ada Lovelace Middle School who solves local crimes, marking a shift from the mature-rated video games to more accessible storytelling.
In a high-profile partnership, Ubisoft is teaming up with Adi Shankar—known for producing Netflix's Castlevania and the forthcoming Devil May Cry series—for a young-adult show. Titled Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Vibe, it draws from the Far Cry 3 expansion Blood Dragon. This series will establish a multiverse connecting various Ubisoft properties, hinting at potential crossovers in future content.
These adaptations, announced in October 2019, reflect Ubisoft's ambition to build broader entertainment ecosystems around its intellectual properties.
