If you’re just starting out in Watch Dogs and want to build your bankroll fast, this guide will walk you through one of the most effective early-game money-making strategies. Brought to you by Saintsfan, this method is beginner-friendly, repeatable, and doesn’t require progressing deep into the story. If you’re ready to unlock top-tier gear, weapons, and cars without grinding for hours, this guide is for you.
Understanding the Basics of Money Hacking
In Watch Dogs, one of the simplest ways to earn cash is through people you pass in the open world. As you explore, you can hack random pedestrians to access their bank accounts. Sometimes you’ll snag music files or cars, but often, you’ll get money. In the early game, even without any perks, this method is decent—you can get around $2,000 to $6,000 per person.
Spend five minutes wandering near a few ATMs, hacking anyone who catches your profiler’s attention, and you might walk away with $30,000 to $50,000. It’s low-effort and a great way to start padding your wallet.
But with a little investment, you can supercharge this method.
Unlocking the Money-Making Perks
After you’ve progressed to roughly the fifth or sixth mission in the story, the full perk tree becomes available. Once that happens, you’ll want to immediately purchase three key perks that will drastically increase your income.
Here’s the breakdown:
- ATM Hack Boost – This is your first stop. It increases the amount of money you get from ATM-linked hacks.
- Profiler Optimization – This perk makes it easier to identify which people are worth hacking by highlighting those with valuable data.
- ATM Hack Boost Plus – This is the ultimate upgrade in this path and the key to unlocking huge payouts. With this perk active, you can get $5,000, $6,000, even up to $15,000 per person.
Once all three are unlocked, the real earnings begin. Simply walk around the city, especially in populated areas, and start hacking. It’s not uncommon to hit $30,000 in under a minute.
How to Maximize Your Hack Runs
To get the most out of this method, choose high-traffic areas. Business districts, parks, or places that “look like money” tend to have better payouts, though it’s partly randomized.
Saintsfan found solid luck in parks, where multiple wealthy targets could be found in close proximity. While it’s true that the system involves a bit of chance, large crowds increase your odds significantly.
If you stay active for just 20 minutes with the perks enabled, it’s realistic to earn hundreds of thousands—possibly pushing toward a million if you stay focused. That’s enough to unlock high-tier weapons like the .50 cal sniper rifle or the AA-12 automatic shotgun without grinding missions.
And because Watch Dogs is an open-world playground, this gives you the freedom to experiment and enjoy yourself without being limited by cash flow.
Why This Method Matters for Early-Game Players
Money gives you freedom in Watch Dogs. Whether you’re looking to buy new cars, unlock a deadly weapon early, or just play around with the sandbox elements of the game, having a hefty stash from the beginning makes the experience way more fun.
While this method might not be the ultimate endgame strategy, it’s perfect for newcomers or returning players who want a strong start. And if a better method arises later, there’ll be time to pivot. But for now, this is your go-to play.
Final Thoughts
If you’re new to Watch Dogs and want to enjoy the world without grinding out missions just for pocket change, this money method will set you up quickly. As Saintsfan put it, it’s simple, effective, and perfect for players who want to unlock the fun right away.
Scan smart, invest in the right perks, hit populated areas, and let the cash roll in.
Stay tuned for more guides, including fast leveling tips and mission walkthroughs. And remember—this city’s yours to hack.
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