Overview
Aiden Pearce is the main protagonist of the 2014 game Watch Dogs, appearing as a cameo in the sequel Watch Dogs 2 and as a main character in a DLC pack for Watch Dogs: Legion. He is a grey hat hacker with direct access to the ctOS network in Chicago, which allows him to act as a justice-seeking vigilante.
Biography
Aiden Pearce was born on May 2nd, 1974 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Aiden, his mother and younger sister Nicole Pearce fled to the United States to escape from their father who was implied to be abusive and emotionally estranged from the family.
During his childhood, Aiden grew up in a rough neighborhood and frequently had to protect his family. He also began learning about computers and grew to become a skilled hacker. As a young adult, Aiden joined a criminal gang where he learned hand-to-hand combat as well as how to use firearms. Using his newfound skillset, he began work as a thief and fixer.
Aiden became an uncle when Nicole had two children, Jackson and Lena. Due to the absence of a father figure, Aiden quickly became the closest thing the two children had to a father.
Later on, Aiden became acquainted with a fellow hacker named Damien Brenks. The two formed a strong bond as they taught each other particular hacking skills.
The Merlaut Job
In 2012, both Aiden Pearce and Damien Brenks hacked into the Merlaut Hotel to siphon bank accounts. Dermot Quinn, a gang kingpin and owner of the hotel, believed that the hack was to find a private video of Chicago's mayor murdering a woman named Rose Washington. As a result, Quinn issues hits on Aiden and Damien in order to scare them into submission.
Due to the botched job, Aiden severed all ties with Damien and attempted to move on from the situation. One night while driving his nephew and niece, Aiden's car was shot at by amateur hitman Maurice Vega, subsequently causing the car to crash. Aiden's niece, Lena, was killed during the crash while both Aiden and Jackson suffered a coma among other minor injuries.
Shortly afterwards, Aiden began investigating the identity of the people indirectly responsible for Lena's death and established a hideout in a motel. Sometime after Lena's funeral, Nicole encouraged Aiden to not pursue revenge as it would only cause more danger.
Sometime later, Aiden became acquainted with Jordi Chin, a fellow Fixer whom he employs to track down his niece's murderer.
Personality
He is a highly skilled hacker with access to the ctOS, the central operating system, which allows him to access and control the entire information network. This includes monitoring phone conversations, as well as city cameras and even manipulating traffic lights.
Paranoid to a fault because of his knowledge of the world, Aiden is completely obsessed with surveillance and control, to a point where he even monitors the people close to him, without their knowledge or consent.
It is revealed Aiden has a warrant out for his arrest. The accusations include computer fraud, illegal possession of a firearm, and grand larceny.
Other Appearances
Aiden makes an unplayable cameo in a Watch Dogs 2 mission, where he is captured by the Bratva while investigating a human trafficking ring in San Francisco. Marcus uses his hacking skills to help Aiden break out of his cell.
Aiden can be recruited as a playable character in Watch Dogs: Legion, and is one of the main protagonists of the DLC prequel story Bloodlines.
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