Watch Dogs 2 Cheats & Secrets guide screenshot

Cheats & Secrets

Cheats & Secrets



Watch Dogs 2 does not feature traditional cheat codes, debug menus, or console commands. However, the game is packed with developer-intended hidden content, Easter eggs, and unlockable secrets that reward exploration and creativity. Below is a comprehensive guide to all known secrets, hidden areas, Easter eggs, and unlockable content.

---

Unlockable Content via Progression



While not “cheats,” the following are locked behind specific actions and can be considered secret unlocks:

  • Hacker Takedown Outfit: Complete the side mission “Blume Agent” (accessible after Main Operation 4) to unlock the wearable Blume disguise. This outfit allows you to walk past guards in restricted areas without raising suspicion until you attack.

  • DedSec Four-Wheel Drone: After completing the “Research Point” side objectives for all four DedSec members (Wrench, Sitara, Josh, Horatio), you unlock the ability to customize their outfits and gain a special drone paint job. No additional gameplay effect, but a cosmetic secret.

  • Secret Safe Houses: There are two hidden safe houses beyond the main DedSec headquarters:

    • - Pacifica Container Home: Located on the docks in Pacifica (near the “Pacifica Condemned” billboard). Requires completing the “Hacker's Den” side operation to gain access.
    - Stanford University Dorm Room: Inside the Stanford University campus, a dorm room becomes available after the side mission “The Learner.”
  • Uber Driver Missions: After completing the main story, you unlock a series of side missions where you drive for “Uber” (in-game “Nudle”). These are not marked on the map until you accept them via the DedSec app.


    • ---

    Easter Eggs & Pop Culture References



    Watch Dogs 2 is filled with references to other Ubisoft franchises, movies, and internet culture. Here are the most notable:

    Assassin's Creed Crossover


  • The Black Box: In the basement of the “Sitara's Warehouse” (the DedSec art studio), there is a hidden room with a wooden box that has a glowing “Animus” effect. Interact with it to unlock an Assassin-themed outfit for Marcus (the “Assassin Suit”).

  • Leap of Faith: On top of the Transamerica Pyramid, you can perform a leap of faith into a hay bale below (placed on a truck). This triggers a unique animation and deduction of XP.

  • Eagle Vision: In the same area, using the camera’s zoom on a specific rooftop will reveal a hidden QR code that plays the Assassin's Creed theme when scanned.


    • Far Cry / Blood Dragon


  • Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon Outfit: Complete the side mission “Biker's Hideout” in Marin (near the Golden Gate Bridge) to unlock a neon-tinged Blood Dragon outfit. The mission involves hacking a terminal that plays a retro-80s arcade game.

  • Vaas Montenegro Reference: At the “Bayview” amusement park, listen to the roller coaster announcement; one of the recorded lines is “Did I ever tell you the definition of insanity?” (Vaas’s famous quote).


    • Other Games & Movies


  • The Sims Reference: In the “Spark” research lab, there is a room with a glass coffin and a green liquid – a direct homage to the “Resident Evil” series.

  • Hotline Miami: A secret arcade machine in a back alley near the “Pier 39” area lets you play a short 8-bit shooter called “Hotline San Francisco.”

  • Back to the Future: In the garage of a house in “Oakland Hills,” you can find a DeLorean-style car with “OUTATIME” license plates. Hacking it triggers a mini cutscene of the car disappearing in a flash.

  • Portal: In the “Corte Madera” shopping mall, use the Quadcopter to find a small, glowing blue portal behind a vent. Flying through it teleports you to a room with a cake and a weighted companion cube.


    • ---

    Hidden Areas & Secrets



    Underwater Secrets


  • Sunken Ship: Off the coast of Angel Island, there is a partially submerged shipwreck. Dive down and scan the data terminals to get a unique crafting recipe for Explosive Printer Filament.

  • Secret Cave: Under the Golden Gate Bridge, there is a cave entrance only accessible by boat. Inside, a laptop plays a hidden message from the original Watch Dogs protagonist, Aiden Pearce.


    • Rooftop & Vertical Exploration


  • Water Tower at Oakland Hills: Climb the water tower near the “Oakland Hills” safe house to find a hidden selfie spot and a DedSec logo spray-painted on the tank. Taking a selfie here unlocks a “Hipster” filter for the camera.

  • Sutro Tower: The top of Sutro Tower has a hidden room with a glowing server rack. Hacking it reveals a secret backdoor into Blume’s network, granting a permanent +5% to Research Point gain.


    • ScoutX Rewards


  • Pollo Loco Statues: These 25 golden chicken statues are hidden across the map. Collecting all of them unlocks the “Golden Chicken” outfit (a chicken suit) and a trophy/achievement. They are often placed in tricky spots like under bridges or inside fenced areas. Use the Quadcopter drone with a scanner to locate them easily.

  • Research Points: Several Research Points are hidden in areas not marked on the map. For example:

    • - Behind a locked door in the “Blume San Francisco Office” (requires a hacking puzzle).
    - Inside a safe in the “Corte Madera Mall” (code: 2109 – found by hacking the store clerk’s phone).
    - Floating on a buoy in the bay near “Pacifica” – use the drone to collect it.

    ---

    Developer-Intended Hidden Content



    Ubisoft intentionally placed several features that act like “cheats” if you know where to look:

  • Nudle Maps Glitch: If you open the Nudle maps app (the in-game GPS) and rapidly zoom in and out ten times, the map will glitch out and reveal all collectible locations temporarily. This is a known developer easter egg and resets after 60 seconds.

  • Car Spawn Mod: Using the DedSec app on your phone while standing next to any vehicle, repeatedly pressing the “Hack” button can sometimes cause a duplicate of that vehicle to spawn beside you. This is not guaranteed but works often with cars at police stations.

  • Infinite Loic Counter: The “Loic” profile (the journalist) can be hacked repeatedly if you close the app and reopen it. Each hack gives you a small amount of money and a chance encounter. This is a minor exploit that Ubisoft left in the game.


    • ---

    Exploit-Safe Secrets (Patched or Not Recommended)



    Some older exploits have been patched in current versions, but we list them for completeness:

  • Money Glitch: Buying and reselling the same stock from the “Stock Market” app via Ubisoft Club rewards was patched in Update 1.20. Do not attempt as it may flag your account.

  • Unlimited Research Points: A duplication glitch involving multiplayer co-op was fixed in Update 1.15. No current method exists.


---

Conclusion



Watch Dogs 2 rewards curiosity. While you won’t find a classic “god mode” code, the hidden outfits, secret areas, and Easter eggs provide a rich layer of content. Use the drone and camera extensively to scan for anomalies, listen to NPC conversations for hints, and explore every nook of San Francisco. The secrets are worth the effort!