Part 2

Learn about the development history, setting, and core gameplay mechanics of Sleeping Dogs, released August 2012.

Sleeping Dogs was originally developed under the working title "HK" by United Front Games, drawing on their experience with open-world games and a love for Hong Kong cinema. It was initially rebranded as True Crime: Hong Kong by Activision, incorporating elements from Treyarch's cancelled Black Lotus project. However, Activision cancelled the project in February 2011. Square Enix acquired the rights in August 2011, retaining United Front Games as developers and renaming the game Sleeping Dogs. It was released worldwide for PS3, Xbox 360, and Windows PC in August 2012.

The game is set in the bustling streets and alleys of Hong Kong Island. You play as Wei Shen, an undercover cop infiltrating a triad (Chinese mafia) organization. The gameplay combines martial arts combat with environmental interactions, driving with vehicular stunts, slo-mo shooting, and occasional cover (press the cover button to crouch behind walls or objects)-based shooting with a bullet-time feature. Sleeping Dogs offers a rich single-player experience with an engaging cinematic story, supplemented by side-missions, minigames, and other distractions. You can continue playing after completing the story to pursue remaining side-content.

In August 2014, Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition was announced for PS4, Xbone, and Steam, featuring enhanced graphics, audio, and gameplay, and including twenty-four DLC (downloadable content — extra missions or items released after launch) packs. It was released in October 2014. Refer to Section 14 for full details on DLC integration in the Definitive Edition.

United Front Games launched Triad Wars in March 2015, a free-to-play follow-up set in Hong Kong on the North Point map from Sleeping Dogs. It featured asynchronous multiplayer where players raided turf against AI bots. The game was discontinued in January 2016. United Front Games was closed in October 2016. In November 2016, details of a cancelled 2013 sequel were published, which would have been set in the Pearl River megacity and featured optional co-op gameplay and a mobile game influencing the main game.

Key influences on Sleeping Dogs include the 2002 Hong Kong movie 'Infernal Affairs' and the 2005 Thai film 'The Protector'.