Brexit's Impact on Dystopian London in Watch Dogs: Legion

Set in an alternate universe where Britain voted to leave the EU decades prior to the events of real-world Brexit in 2018, Ubisoft Montreal’s latest installment in the hacker-themed action-adventure series, WATCH DOGS LEGION (referred hereafter as 'Legion'), offers players a gritty and bleak look at what could have been if Leave had won on June 23rd, 2020.

The game is set several years after an undefined point of time following the actual Brexit vote in 2016. While not explicitly stated within the narrative itself - perhaps intentionally so as to maintain some level of ambiguity regarding its place within our current timeline -, it's clear that many things have gone awry since then.

London, once a thriving metropolis teeming with life and color thanks largely due partly because of its strong ties both economically speaking through membership in what became known simply “The Bloc” (an obvious reference point for those familiarized enough) alongside politically speaking via continued participation within various supra-national organizations such as NATO etc., now stands transformed into a dystopian wasteland ravaged by poverty, violence and despair.

Legion’s take on post-Brexit Britain is unflinching in its depiction of what life might look like if the Leave campaign had won. Towering concrete walls bisect the cityscape; armed riot police patrol street corners while groups of hooded vigilantes hunt down perceived dissidents. This bleak vision serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly small decisions can have far-reaching consequences for generations to come.

In Legion, players take on the role of an unnamed protagonist fighting against an oppressive AI regime known simply as 'The Division.' As they progress through various missions and side-ops, it becomes increasingly clear that this alternate timeline's Brexit vote was not just another political blip - but rather a turning point that set off a chain reaction leading directly towards this dark future.

Throughout the game, subtle references are peppered throughout to real-world events surrounding Britain’s actual departure from EU membership in 2020. From billboards plastered across London streets touting 'Brexit: The New Normal' to news reports discussing ongoing economic chaos and social unrest fuelled by Remain/Leave divisions that still simmer beneath the surface today.

Overall, Watch Dogs: Legion offers an unsettling glimpse into what could have been if Leave had indeed won on June 23rd. While some might argue its take on post-Brexit Britain feels overly pessimistic or hyperbolic - especially given recent real-world events that seem to suggest many of these predictions aren't so far off the mark after all -, there's no denying that Ubisoft Montreal has created something truly thought-provoking here.

So if you're ready to immerse yourself in a gritty alternate reality where Brexit turned sour and Britain was left reeling under its own weight, then WATCH DOGS LEGION is waiting for you. Just be warned: once you step into this dystopian world - there may not be turning back...

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