Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Saros review
  • Arc Raiders
  • The Boys S5
  • Best turn-based RPGs
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
  • Delta Force giveaway
Don't miss these
RedMagic 11 Pro gaming phone standing on wooden desk
Mobile Gaming The best gaming phones 2026
Crimson Desert hero with eyes shut
Open World Games Crimson Desert is just more proof that waiting to play games is the best
Pragmata screenshot taken on PS5
Action Games Pragmata review: "Blasting and hacking in sync has me locked in for Capcom's sci-fi shooter"
Pragmata hack complete
Action Games Everything you need to know about hacking in Pragmata
Mouse: P.I. For Hire screenshot featuring an enemy melting down to their skeleton
FPS Games Mouse: P.I. For Hire is great for a couple hours, fine for several more, and then a long exhausting exercise
Kliff fighting a Black Bear warrior in Crimson Desert
Open World Games Crimson Desert players keep losing boss fights to a haunted book that forces you to read it
Pragmata Diana hacking in the Shelter with her arm outstretched
Action Games 12 Pragmata tips and tricks for new players
Replaced release trailer screenshots
Platforming Games 37 years since Prince of Persia, Replaced is the cinematic platformer I've been waiting for
Headshot of Todd Howard, executive producer and game director of Bethesda Game Studios. Image supplied to GamesRadar by BGS.
Games Ex-Bethesda senior artist says Todd Howard would tell devs "we can do anything but we can't do everything"
Arc Raiders Wasp Hunter armor set with yellow leather
Third Person Shooters "Players shouldn't feel fully safe" in Arc Raiders even in friendly lobbies, lead dev says
Crimson Desert screenshot of protagonist Kliff, with a GamesRadar On the Radar overlay
RPGs I cheesed my way through one of Crimson Desert's biggest bandit camps and it made me love the game
Cyberpunk 2077
RPGs Cyberpunk 2077 is a better role-playing game than The Witcher 3
Rap duo Real Dimez in GTA 6 stand in front of microphones, with the GamesRadar+ Big in 2026 frame branding
Grand Theft Auto Grand Theft Auto 6 will define 2026 and the future of gaming, for better or worse
Replaced screenshots from release date trailer
Platforming Games Replaced is a side-scrolling cyberpunk beat 'em up that wants to feel like a playable movie
Marathon Thief shell in dark lighting
FPS Games I'm in a situationship with Marathon's "worst" gun, and after 80 hours I'm not letting the meta break us up
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Games
  2. Action Games
  3. Watch Dogs

"But his phone battery never dies" - 6 ways Watch Dogs defies logic

Features
By Matt Porter published 27 June 2014

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

It's good to hack

It's good to hack

Say what you want about Watch Dogs, but you cant deny that its core hacking system is cool. Being able to plunge Chicago into virtual chaos using your phone makes you feel powerful, and thats before you resort to the usual guns and grenades.

But come on now, Ubisoft. You cant expect us to believe Aiden Pearce is doing all this from his smartphone without any complications. Everyones got one of those mobile devices nowadays, but as good as they are, we all know that they dont exactly work how we want them to all the time. Heres what would happen if the events in Watch Dogs were actually realistic.

Page 1 of 8
Page 1 of 8
1. Unbelievable battery life

1. Unbelievable battery life

Ill start with the obvious one up front. Lets be honest, your phones charge might last an entire day provided you dont even turn on the screen to check the time. A few checks of your email and a quick Twitter update is usually enough to send the battery into the redzone.

Now take Aiden Pearce, and his constantly logging into Chicagos operating system. The first time he changes the traffic lights at an intersection hes going to have to head back to the bunker to plug in his phone. Maybe Aidens trenchcoat carries dozens of extra batteries. Is that why it flaps around so much?

Page 2 of 8
Page 2 of 8
2. He never gets spam

2. He never gets spam

Aiden only ever seems to get texts and calls from people he wants to talk to. I dont know about you, but most of the time I excitedly check my phone after I receive a text, only to find its spam about some special offer or a call about a free credit report. Not Aiden. Why? Well, just imagine your next tailing mission in Watch Dogs being interrupted by an ad for penis enhancement.

Maybe Aiden doesnt get them anymore, but he must have received some in the past. It looks like he got a pretty sweet deal on trenchcoats and hats before, because those are the only things he seems capable of buying in clothes shops. Maybe he just has a really great sponsorship deal. From, er, people who make slightly shabby coats and self-aggrandising hats.

Page 3 of 8
Page 3 of 8
3. He never gets caught for texting while driving

3. He never gets caught for texting while driving

Using your phone while driving is very dangerous. Youre distracted from the road, and you have to take your hand off the wheel to use it. Of course, its even more dangerous if you happen to be a Fixer chasing down Aiden Pearce in a car. Drive over some blockers or a steam vent and its lights out for you.

There dont seem to be many visible police in Watch Dogs version of Chicago (they just seem to magically appear during a chase), but if any of them did spot Aiden on his phone, hed be pulled over in a flash and slapped with a hefty fine. Maybe even some points on his license too. Perhaps this fictional version of the Windy City doesn't have the same law that the real one put into effect late last year.

Page 4 of 8
Page 4 of 8
4. He never drops or damages his phone

4. He never drops or damages his phone

Weve all done it. Those slippery phones always seem to squirm out of our hands at the worst possible time. Ive lost count of the number of friends who've dropped their phone down a toilet. Whats more is, the pricier the handset, the more damage it seems to take / faecal matter it seems to attract.

Aidens phone must be very expensive and heavily customised, given how high tech it is. The amount of running and jumping about he does, coupled with how many times he gets shot or in car accidents must mean Aiden drops his phone from time to time. Thankfully for him, any one of the people whose bank accounts hes hacked can pick up the bill.

Page 5 of 8
Page 5 of 8
5. He never gets unexpected phone calls

5. He never gets unexpected phone calls

*Bzzzt... bzzzt* Hello? Yeah, hi mother No I cant really talk right n Yes Ive remembered aunt Sarahs birthday No I havent forgotten youre visiting at the weekend. Listen, Im surrounded by some very angry gang members at the moment, I have to go. Ill call you back okay?Yeah I love you too.

Its pretty lucky Aidens phone never rings while hes sneaking up behind a bad guy with his baton at the ready. Maybe he remembers to put it on silent before infiltrating a gang hideout, though it's got to be pretty quiet on vibrate too. Like most human beings, gangsters happen to be another group of people who dont like you being on your phone while you're trying to kill them.

Page 6 of 8
Page 6 of 8
6. No-one criticises Aiden for constantly looking at his phone

6. No-one criticises Aiden for constantly looking at his phone

One of the more amusing moments in Watch Dogs for me was near the start of the game where Aiden visits his sisters house. Shes talking about her son and how everyone is coping with the tragic loss of her daughter. Meanwhile, Aidens walking around the house looking at his phone as her heartfelt conversation continues.

People can get super annoyed if youre on your phone in their company. Sending texts to other people while youre having a conversation is just plain rude. At least most people put their phone away again afterwards. Aiden seems to have the thing glued to his hand. I know youve got some pockets on that flappy trenchcoat of yours, Pearce.

Page 7 of 8
Page 7 of 8
No service

No service

I know if I had a phone with the power of Aiden Pearces, I wouldnt be so mad at how much I currently pay for mine. I bet his data doesnt get throttled after 5GB either. As it is, weve got a long way to go before the events of Watch Dogs can be believable. Have you noticed anything else wrong with Watch Dogs world? Let me know in the comments.

Want more Watch Dogs-flavoured madness? Here is 8 Things You Need To Do In Watch Dogs Before You Die, and another feature on Why Aiden Pearce Is A Total Asshole. No, you're welcome.

Page 8 of 8
Page 8 of 8
CATEGORIES
PC Gaming PlayStation PS4 Xbox Xbox One Platforms
Matt Porter
Social Links Navigation

You can often find Matt writing words about games, especially at a time when he was a freelance games journalist. However, nowadays Matt is a producer for CSGO and League of Legends, and an interviewer for Dexerto. 

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter
Read more
Ready or Not 2 trailer screenshot with Samara Weaving on right screaming in chair and Kathryn Newton on left with Steam Deck over head.
Handhelds I just spotted the Steam Deck in a big horror movie sequel, and it's film debut highlights a specific handheld flaw
 
 
Pragmata hack complete
Action Games Everything you need to know about hacking in Pragmata
 
 
Samson gameplay that shows three cars crashing, with one sent into the air
Action Games Samson proves there's still room for smaller Grand Theft Auto-style sandboxes – I just wish this one was better
 
 
Cover art for Half-Life: Blue Shift
Games This breakdown of graphical tricks in Half-Life and more is an incredible peek behind the curtain
 
 
Oblivion Remastered
The Elder Scrolls Oblivion Remastered's wildest bug made me choose between losing achievements or living as a fugitive
 
 
In Hitman World of Assassination, Agent 47 sits at the departure gate in an airport during the loading screen
Roguelike Games After weeks spent locked into Hitman's Freelancer mode, I realize there's one vital thing 007 First Light needs to learn
 
 
Latest in Action Games
GTA 6
Grand Theft Auto GTA 6 $100 price fears seemingly squashed as Take-Two CEO stresses "our job is to charge way way way less of the value"
 
 
GTA 6
Grand Theft Auto Wait for GTA 6 trailer 3 nears 1 year, but Take-Two boss says Rockstar will spin up marketing "soon"
 
 
Motorslice heroine making peace sign
Action Games Indie dev discovers nuclear fusion of Steam marketing, flies up wishlists thanks to anime girl
 
 
Star Fox
Action Games The original Star Fox puppets were apparently destroyed by the Godzilla Minus One studio
 
 
Assassin's Creed screenshot of Altair walking through a crowded street
Assassin's Creed Assassin's Creed 1 remake could be next after Black Flag Resynced, leaker says
 
 
The Last of Us Part 2 screenshot shows two characters riding on horses across a snowy landscape.
The Last of Us The Last of Us Online was "the best multiplayer game" many Naughty Dog devs had "ever played," ex game director says
 
 
Latest in Features
Homelander in the Oval Office in The Boys season 5 trailer
Superhero Shows The Boys season 5, episode 5 recap: Easter eggs, cameos, and who dies
 
 
Blood of Dawnwalker screenshot showing Unreal Engine 5 open world
RPGs Five reasons why The Blood of Dawnwalker is becoming my most anticipated RPG of 2026
 
 
Royce Johnson as Brett Mahoney is Daredevil
Marvel TV Shows Who is Brett Mahoney in Daredevil: Born Again season 2?
 
 
Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page in Daredevil: Born Again season 2
Marvel TV Shows Daredevil: Born Again season 2 episode 7 lets down two of its most interesting characters
 
 
The cast of Citadel season 2.
Streaming Services All the movies and shows streaming on Prime Video in May 2026
 
 
A side by side of the Steam Controller with the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro 8K
Gaming Controllers The Steam Controller doesn't appear to be a hit for competitive play, so here are the best alternatives
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Battlefield 6
    1
    EA CEO says 85% of the publisher's QA work uses AI, but it's not taking jobs, it's making them
  2. 2
    All Re Rangers X codes (April 2026) for Gems, Keys, and more
  3. 3
    New 12GB RTX 5070 gaming laptops should start shipping this summer, fortifying mid-range QHD performance
  4. 4
    The Boys season 5, episode 5 recap: Easter eggs, cameos, and who dies
  5. 5
    Arc Raiders Wrench in the Works quest guide

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...