//n/Dark Cloud

Ubisoft has today announced it's publishing an eBook to tie in with the launch of Watch_Dogs, titled //n/Dark Clouds. The book will serve as a direct sequel to the events of the game, and release on 27th May in English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian. //n/Dark Clouds is authored by American science fiction novelist John Shirley, known best for the A Song Called Youth trilogy. Along with the announcement came a behind-the-scenes trailer:

Shirley is "a known figure in the hacker community and is a pioneer of the cyberpunk movement," so Ubisoft believes he's a perfect fit for the world of Watch_Dogs. He's working closely with the writers and development team at Ubisoft Montréal to create an eBook that incorporates characters from the game, as well as new characters of his own:

Working on Watch Dogs was enormously interesting to me because its world offers the convergence of cyberpunk and the edgy tech reality of our times; it all plays out with action and energy against the inner city backdrop that I thrive in. With hack tech in one hand and gun in the other, Aiden Pearce is a believable fusion of hacker and action hero who deliberately slips between the cracks of society to relentlessly pursue his agenda. The novel introduces Mick Wolfe, an ex-military, who get caught in a dangerous game in Chicago’s hyper connected and violent underground. Working with Thomas Geffroyd and Kevin Shortt at Ubisoft to develop the book was a rocking experience – Ubisoft is right out there on the frontier of videogame development. I couldn’t ask for more inspiration.

//n/Dark Clouds will be available in two formats: a standard eBook, and a premium version with interactive elements and videos. You can find out more at the novel's official website here. The 27th May launch coincides with the release of Watch_Dogs on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One, but Wii U owners will have to wait until an unspecified later date in Fall to get their hands on the game. In the meantime, you can whet your appetite with //n/Dark Clouds. Will you be picking this up?