As much as we love the idea of drifting around the M25 Burnout-style and wish we could pull off half of Fifa’s skill moves à la Lionel Messi, there are very few aspects of video games that we actually wish would come to life. Imagine having a health bar constantly hovering above your head, routinely being challenged with esoteric Resident Evil shadow puzzles or doing a Witcher 3 and spending days at a time traipsing up and down a monster-filled map to help some peasant with their marital issues. If there is one exception to this deeply held rule, it’s the temptation to get hold of some of that amazing gadgetry.
While we’re still a way off from seeing the Portal gun infinitely shorten our commute time or Breath Of The Wild’s Sheikah Slate supplant our iPad, Hamilton has come up with something pretty special to tide us over in the meantime. The storied watchmaker has collaborated with video game developer Ubisoft to make a one-of-a-kind edition of arguably its most iconic creation: the Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium Automatic Far Cry® Limited Edition. It’s a timepiece that will straddle the digital divide by existing both in game and IRL.
Not caught up on the latest instalment of this long-running and critically acclaimed franchise? Set on the fictional Caribbean island of Yara, Far Cry® 6 sees you play as Dani Rojas, wrestling control of the island away from the clutches of its unhinged dictator, Antón Castillo (voiced by Giancarlo Esposito, the actor behind Breaking Bad cartel chief Gus Fring). As such, this watch is one of several tools you’ll rely on to liberate yourself from Castillo’s vicious clutches. “Hamilton’s Khaki Field isn’t merely an accessory choice or functional asset but is truly integrated into Yara’s history, with a full backstory that connects it to the island’s deposed leader,” says Omar Bouali, Ubisoft's game content director. “It may be a small detail, but it adds immense authenticity to the cinematic world we’ve created.”
For the uninitiated, it’s worth recalling just how legit Hamilton’s Khaki Field Titanium really is. Founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the brand originally made watches for US railroad workers before pivoting to support the Allied forces during the Second World War, when it supplied more than one million units towards the effort. There are few other wristwear brands with so thorough a pedigree of rugged utility and the Khaki Field Titanium is a modern incarnation of that tradition – albeit one that’s just as suited to smart-casual officewear as it is sweeping through enemy encampments with ninja-like stealth.
“We’ve created movie props before, including for Interstellar and Tenet, but they were still made up of tangible parts,” says Vivian Stauffer, Hamilton CEO. “Ensuring the watch maintained a real and genuine look and feel – despite being virtual – was a new but very rewarding challenge for us.”
To that end, the Khaki Field Titanium Automatic features a number of flourishes that elevate its real-world aesthetics while nodding back to the fractious world of Yara. Tucked inside its 42mm brushed titanium case is a black vinyl dial with a split “six” marker, echoing the typography of the latest Far Cry® instalment. There’s also a striking red seconds hand to pay tribute to the game’s revolutionary forces, while a brown leather Nato strap further adds to the combat-ready feel of things. Of course, this wouldn’t be a fully fledged video game item without its own bespoke stat perk. So having unlocked the watch, players will be able to make use of its “keeps on ticking” function, improving their general defence during sprints so they can dive out of danger in a pinch.
Wondering whether this Khaki Field Titanium has the same amount of stamina when it comes to your actual day to day? Fear not, the H-10 automatic movement has an 80-hour power reserve to last you through your own minor skirmishes. In an elegant touch, its rotor is on display through an open case back.
“With its military-inspired design and lightweight functionality, Hamilton’s Khaki Field was simply the most ideal fit for Dani and for Yara,” says Bouali. “The timepiece’s standout style and personality make it a memorable keepsake and its precision and power ensure its practical value as well. Its balance of storytelling and authenticity mirror that of the world we created and that was very exciting for us.”
While every Far Cry® 6 player will be able to strap on the watch in-game, those who want to wear it away from Yara themselves may face a different kind of challenge. With only 1,983 pieces of the Khaki Field Titanium being manufactured (a nod to the year of Far Cry® 6’s setting), this is a collectible in every sense of the word. It aligns with Hamilton’s appearance in more than 500 films and television shows since 1932, including Christopher Nolan’s recent epics. So this entry into a whole new medium felt like an inevitable next step in the brand’s cultural journey.
“It was natural for us to collaborate with a video game, taking its cinematic storytelling to the next level,” says Stauffer. “Just as filmmakers explore new ways to engage audiences for a truly immersive experience, game developers are focusing on even the smallest details to bring authenticity to their interactive plots.”
If Hamilton’s Khaki Field Titanium is the first watch to be immersed so deeply into the world and story of a video game, you have to imagine it won’t be the last. For the moment, you’ll be able to see it in digital action when Far Cry® 6 launches on 7 October across PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S consoles. And as for the future? “We are deeply inspired by the creativity and craft of game studios and we’ll be part of that journey whenever it makes sense for the story,” says Stauffer. “Stay tuned!”
£1,000. hamiltonwatch.com
