Are People Moving on From The Division?

The Division released back in March to quite a bit of praise. Ubisoft Massive had created something that provided both a single player experience that was worth playing, and a solid footing for multiplayer fun. The Division’s unique take on PvP also helped to garner some attention. Giving players the option to “play nice” or slaughter one another helped to created a sense of tension that isn’t so easily found in other shooters, especially on console.

But for all the things that The Division has gotten right, it hasn’t done much else. The first impression was strong, yet when it comes to online driven games, there has to be more. Games like The Division and Destiny live on content that keeps the player base coming back for more at regular intervals while the hardcore crowd stays entrenched. Unfortunately, even the hardcore crowd is starting to find very little reason to continue exploring the snowy streets of New York City.

The developers attempted to counteract that with updates that add new content for those who have reached the end game, and activities for those who need help doing so. This was definitely a step in the right direction, as the Incursion along with new daily missions provided reasons to keep your Agent signed up for war. Players were excited to partake in a new raid-like challenge that promised powerful new gear to help them fine-tune their Agents. And, for a moment, all was well… until the cheating began.

The Division has had its fair share of bugs since launch. This didn’t come as much of a surprise to anyone as ambitious games are known to have a few hiccups. When you add the fact that the devs have been on top of releasing hot-fixes and patches, it’s easy to turn a blind eye to the less than favorable features. However, when those bugs start ruining the game for those wishing to partake in multiplayer, it creates a huge issue.

Bugs in the online shooter became exploits, and those exploits were used to beat the new incursion, hide in the Dark Zone, and obtain powerful gear much quicker than those who play the game the way it was meant to be played. Doesn’t sound like much of a big deal, right? After all, those people paid their money and should be able to play as they wish. Normally, many would agree with that sentiment, but when that gear makes the Dark Zone virtually unplayable for a lot of people, it’s impossible to look away.

This is a problem that Ubisoft Massive has become aware of, and has been making great strides to correct. In fact, just a few weeks ago, the developers have begun punishing offenders. Those caught using exploits repeatedly now receive a temporary ban the first time, then a complete ban for further infractions. It’s a bold move by Ubisoft, one made to win back the fans who want to play the game. But it may be too little too late.

For many, the damage has been done. The new system only detects exploits going forward. Those who have pillaged the toughest challenges for the greatest spoils already have what they need. Sure, going forward and obtaining the next level of high-end gear will have everyone on equal footing, but for those getting murdered in the Dark Zone right now, that fact offers no consolation.

While all of this is happening, the sleeping giant that is Destiny is starting to get back into its groove. Last month’s free update brought many back, and with the number of players on the rise, the devs are looking to provide more regular content. Destiny, despite all of its issues, is a game that has been able to learn from its shortcomings as well as transform as time moves on. That is something that The Division has failed to do in its first two months, leading some to consider jumping ship.

The Division is at a critical turning point in its life. The season pass content, what Ubisoft may be banking on when it comes to securing its player base, is still on the horizon. But that means nothing if players see no reason to stay right now. A lot of things have been out of the developer’s control, yes, and you can even chalk that up to growing pains, but they have to do something. There is still plenty to be fixed if the game is to get past this junction.

For the time being, players are still invested as they hope for things to improve, but there’s no telling how long that will last. The Division learned a lot from its competition in the beginning, now its time to learn a bit more. Destiny managed to silence a large portion of the naysayers by constantly improving. If The Division can only rely on hotfixes and patches, we may see a much larger exodus than what’s starting right now.

Have you been considering jumping ship? Are you giving Ubisoft Massive a chance to fix what’s wrong with the game? Let us know in the comments below.