Despite the delay, Ubisoft intrigued a lot of fans when it unveiled the next game in it rebellious hacker franchise,Watch Dogs Legion. Taking place in a slightly cyberpunk London setting, players will take on the role of… Well, everybody. Not every NPC per se, but the game intends on allowing players to recruit whomever they wish throughout London to join the resistance. That’s likely where the game’s subtitle,Legion, comes into play.
It seems Ubisoft is borrowing some etymology from either Roman or possibly biblical origins forWatch Dogs Legion’s subtitle. Symbolism in the word “legion” can be interpreted many ways, whether it’s to be taken literally or have a deeper and true meaning. It’s almost certainly involved with what will likely be an integral part of the core gameplay loop, swapping between various characters for any given situation. Collectively these characters will make up the game’s cast of vigilantes seeking to take back freedom in near-future London.
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The Meaning of Legion
“Legion” at its core is defined as a vast group of individuals, usually in the context of a militaristic force, who are great in number. Legion is akin to that of a brigade or battalion, but specifically with a bit more pomp and circumstance.Legion is a common title for forces of good and evil in TV, film, games, and other media. This flair-like connotation stems from early Roman history, where a “legion” in context of the Roman empire was a unit comprised of several thousand foot soldiers and cavalry. This etymology of legion is now widely considered the foundational definition of the word, most often used when describing large military forces in a stylistic way.
The word can be used both positively and negatively, and there’s a reason specifically for the negative connotation. Legion also has a Bible-specific definition, though it’s a bit darker in the context of Christianity. A legion as described in the bible isa group or gathering of Satanic demons in any context. The word was specifically used in the New Testament, where a “legion” of demons emerges from a man during the Exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac (otherwise known as the “Miracle of the Gadarene Swine”). Academic experts also theorize that this use of the word legion was purposeful, as readers at the time would be familiar with the Roman army. Metaphorically speaking, the use of the word could’ve been symbolism that Jesus was more powerful than an occupying force from Rome.
Legion in Watch Dogs
Putting these definitions in the context of the game,Watch Dogs Legioncould either be taking a literal definition or making a very meta-commentary on the content of the game. ConsideringWatch Dogs Legion’s core gameplay loopinvolves recruiting and swapping between many different characters, it’s very possible legion is just a reference to the sheer amount of recruitable NPCs in the game. Everyone in the game is supposedly part of the resistance players will be arranging inWatch Dogs: Legion, so it’s a fair assumption to make.
Another option, and this is purely speculation, is thatWatch Dogs Legioncould be stating that the resistance players are amassing may not bea force of good for dystopian London. The bible’s definition of a legion would infer that members of the legion in the game may be acting in the name of anarchy rather than justice. Or it’s possible that this will be some kind of internal conflict for the resistance members, perhaps if clashing moral compasses butt heads about what is right or wrong for the city. In the end of that biblical story (Mark 5:1-5:13), the demonic Legion possesses a herd of swine in the distance, to which the group of pigs marches to the sea as they all drown and die. It’s quite the reach, but there is the tiniest possibility that “legion” in theWatch Dogs Legionname is foreshadowing what’s going to happen in the game’s story.
More than likelyWatch Dogs Legionis just simply a reference to the sheer amount of playable characters in the game. In the off chance that “legion” means anything more than a group of vigilantes organizing a resistance, then chalk that theory up as a good guess. Fans will know for sure whenWatch Dogs Legiondoes finally come out.
Watch Dogs Legionis in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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