Recently at an event held by Ubisoft, Twinfinite had the opportunity to go hands-on with The Division 2 and got a taste of its PvP, and PvPvE content.
The first game was far from perfect, especially at launch, but it came into its own as its lifespan played out. Based on what we’ve seen, and played so far though, there’s a lot of reasons to be optimistic about the next game.
Let’s dive into five hypeworthy changes coming to The Division 2.
Big Changes for The Division 2
Endgame and Post Launch Content
The Division was received warmly upon its release, but for a lot of players, there didn’t seem to be many reasons to stay around after beating it. Single-player oriented gamers and lone wolfs often avoided the Dark Zone, so there wasn’t really anything else to explore for that demographic.
Ubisoft figured out how to make it work down the road though – adding important new modes and features – and are carrying that over to The Division 2.
Red Storm creative director Terry Spier emphasized this, stating “everything has been in mind with endgame and a robust post-launch plan.”
According to Spier, that plan’s content revolves around the following:
- Adding new Conflict maps
- New experiences
- Additional modes
- Clans getting integrated into every feature
Keeping The Division 2’s content fresh will be vital to its success, as the original began to falter after it failed to implement endgame content around release.
With a plan in motion though, the sequel can reach a provide much more incentive to stick around for all types of players.
Big Changes for The Division 2
Reworked Server and Anti-Cheat
Ubisoft has made it clear that they want a productive and positive environment for The Division 2. One of their biggest steps towards implementing these goals comes from reworking their client-server architecture.
Reworking servers will serve to do a couple of different noticeable things.
First and foremost, the increased serve counts will boost The Division 2’s overall latency. Improving this not only make a more fun experience by reducing lag, but it also helps curb cheating.
Cheating heavily plagued a lot of players in the PC version of The Division, so plenty of anti-cheat software, both internal and third-party, will be implemented in the sequel. All these changes also give users less chance to modify data as well.
Big Changes for The Division 2
Setting Change
There is no denying that post-apocalyptic Manhattan covered in snow is going to be a tough setting to beat. Both the ambiance and architecture of the New York surroundings told stories of their own in The Division.
Too much of a good thing can also be frustrating though, as leaning on the same area as the original could oversaturate and ruin what made it special. The Division 2’s choice to relocate to Washington, D.C. provides a new slate of ideas to work with.
In the latest story trailer, we see that Washington D.C. is on the brink of collapse, as unique gangs of enemies terrorize the streets.
While their motives are likely similar to the antagonists of the first, the introduction of combatants like suicide bombers means players will have to adapt to new threats.
Strategy when fighting these threats will vary as well, as the distinct spacing orientation of D.C’s different locals will differ heavily from the consistent cityscape that dominated the original game’s makeup.
Washington’s landscape as a whole is interesting, as we see the effects firsthand of the nation’s capital failed attempt to contain the Dollar Flu as efficiently as New York.
Not only does this lead to deep lore for the single-player aspect of The Division 2, but it also seamlessly blends the PvP, especially the Dark Zones, into the narrative.
Big Changes for The Division 2
Dark Zone and PvP Improvements
At the start of the original game, PvP combat was limited to the Dark Zone. While that area was certainly fun, many felt that its system benefited hardcore players, as the barrier to entry was high.
Other modes like Survival, Resistance, and Skirmish helped alleviate a lot of that pain when introduced later on, but it was too little too late for many.
The Division 2 fixes this by providing plenty of PvP options right from the get-go for casual and hardcore players alike.
First off, the Dark Zone has been split from one section into three, with each area catering to different specializations. While Dark Zone East’s open areas favor snipers, the South Zone is all about close quarter combat.
Occupied Dark Zone will also make the other two locations more welcoming to new players. Highly skilled users will want more of a challenge and reward from the hardest zone, meaning the other areas will also likely be filled with newer or lesser skilled players.
Last but not least, the addition of Conflict provides the option to play PvP in the form of organized multiplayer. Many players will be far more comfortable with the familiar layout of Team Deathmatch (Skirmish) and Capture (Domination) modes as opposed to the Dark Zones’ open structure.
Big Changes for The Division 2
Clans
The Division was a blast to play alone, but there is no doubt that hopping onto multiplayer with both friends and strangers resulted in truly one-of-a-kind experiences as well.
Yet something was definitely missing, as it didn’t feel like a Division of Agents working together, but just a couple of people completing the same task.
As a result, fans begged for Clan support in The Division, even going as far as to create their own groups outside of the game. While they never officially made their way into the first game, Ubisoft plans to make Clans a key part of the sequel.
Details are sparse in terms of what exact features Clans will offer at the moment, but the possibilities are endless.
More than anything, Clans will offer a sense of community that will add to the game’s narrative, truly making each group feel like a Division.
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