Agents!

The PvE content doesn’t stop with the addition of West Side Piers. Resistance is our newest 4-player horde-mode activity, and it’s coming in Update 1.8 for free.

If you missed this week’s State of the Game, Creative Director Terry Spier and Lead Designer Keith Evans from Red Storm Entertainment provided an exclusive first-look at Resistance. Check out the VoD for the full demonstration.


In Resistance, the enemy factions have rallied themselves against a common goal—the Agents of the Division. In this mode, all players have a massive target painted on their back. Rioters, Rikers, LMB, and Cleaners are hunting together, and they’re more than prepared to let the bullets fly.


We wanted to ensure that players felt a real threat when playing PvE content. In Resistance, Agents will be outgunned and outnumbered. A dynamic wave spawner similar to the one available in West Side Piers will be utilized during the activity. As players explore the Resistance spaces, enemy factions will spawn dynamically around their location and engage.

Difficulty will directly correlate to wave number. The deeper players venture into Resistance, the more challenging waves will become. Players will face all versions and incarnations of enemy factions to eventually enter Endless Mode. At this point in the activity, the difficulty ramps up exponentially.


Resistance will feature three arenas. The first will bring shipping containers, barges, and construction equipment straight to the players. The second will pit players deep within dark sewer systems and close-knit tunnels. The third will offer fast-paced combat aboard the inner sanctions of a monumental NYC aircraft carrier. Each arena will introduce a unique style of play to the table, and we are excited for players to choose their favorites!

Agents can fast travel to any of the three arenas from the mega-map once their locations are visited within West Side Piers.


In addition to hordes of factions, we are introducing additional modifiers to Resistance to keep things interesting. On the one hand, Critical Objectives are urgent alerts that appear on random waves. Inability to complete these challenges will result in an immediate mission failure. On the other hand, Wildcard Objectives will require adaptation as they are thrown to players while progressing through the mode. The goal is to keep players active, alert, and mobile.


While fighting through Resistance, players will find familiar fortifications available for assistance. Players will utilize SHD Tech from defeated enemies to build/upgrade/repair turrets and pulse stations. We are also introducing healing stations into the mix. When in need of ammo, medkits, and grenades, players can spend their SHD Tech for a quick restock.


With the addition of West Side Piers, Skirmish, and Resistance, Update 1.8 is aiming to deliver community-driven content. There are still more things to discover in 1.8, and we’re excited for the future. Stay tuned Agents!

/ The Division Dev Team

Agents!

The PvE content doesn’t stop with the addition of West Side Piers. Resistance is our newest 4-player horde-mode activity, and it’s coming in Update 1.8 for free.

If you missed this week’s State of the Game, Creative Director Terry Spier and Lead Designer Keith Evans from Red Storm Entertainment provided an exclusive first-look at Resistance. Check out the VoD for the full demonstration.


In Resistance, the enemy factions have rallied themselves against a common goal—the Agents of the Division. In this mode, all players have a massive target painted on their back. Rioters, Rikers, LMB, and Cleaners are hunting together, and they’re more than prepared to let the bullets fly.


We wanted to ensure that players felt a real threat when playing PvE content. In Resistance, Agents will be outgunned and outnumbered. A dynamic wave spawner similar to the one available in West Side Piers will be utilized during the activity. As players explore the Resistance spaces, enemy factions will spawn dynamically around their location and engage.

Difficulty will directly correlate to wave number. The deeper players venture into Resistance, the more challenging waves will become. Players will face all versions and incarnations of enemy factions to eventually enter Endless Mode. At this point in the activity, the difficulty ramps up exponentially.


Resistance will feature three arenas. The first will bring shipping containers, barges, and construction equipment straight to the players. The second will pit players deep within dark sewer systems and close-knit tunnels. The third will offer fast-paced combat aboard the inner sanctions of a monumental NYC aircraft carrier. Each arena will introduce a unique style of play to the table, and we are excited for players to choose their favorites!

Agents can fast travel to any of the three arenas from the mega-map once their locations are visited within West Side Piers.


In addition to hordes of factions, we are introducing additional modifiers to Resistance to keep things interesting. On the one hand, Critical Objectives are urgent alerts that appear on random waves. Inability to complete these challenges will result in an immediate mission failure. On the other hand, Wildcard Objectives will require adaptation as they are thrown to players while progressing through the mode. The goal is to keep players active, alert, and mobile.


While fighting through Resistance, players will find familiar fortifications available for assistance. Players will utilize SHD Tech from defeated enemies to build/upgrade/repair turrets and pulse stations. We are also introducing healing stations into the mix. When in need of ammo, medkits, and grenades, players can spend their SHD Tech for a quick restock.


With the addition of West Side Piers, Skirmish, and Resistance, Update 1.8 is aiming to deliver community-driven content. There are still more things to discover in 1.8, and we’re excited for the future. Stay tuned Agents!

/ The Division Dev Team

Agents, incoming State of the Game transmission:

During the last State of the Game, Community Developer Petter Mårtensson met with Creative Director Terry Spier and Lead Designer Keith Evans from Red Storm Entertainment to preview the upcoming 4-player PvP mode, Skirmish coming in Update 1.8.

This week, Community Developer Hamish Bode was joined by Terry and Keith to provide an exclusive look at the new PvE horde mode, Resistance as well as the Rogue 2.0 mechanics meant to overhaul the Dark Zone experience.

If you missed the stream, you check out the VoD and if you are on currently on the move, you can also catch up using the Podcast recap!


Weekly maintenance occurred this morning with no issues.

Resistance is a new wave based horde PvE mode coming to Update 1.8. Resistance will surely put even the most skilled teams to the test, as enemies will become stronger and increasingly more dangerous for every stage that’s successfully cleared. Check out the VoD of today’s stream for a detailed interview with Terry and Keith as they get into the gritty details of the game mode.

Rogue 2.0 aims to refine the Dark Zone’s mechanics while still retaining its identity as a tension filled, high risk environment. Amongst other changes, you will now be able to choose if you want to go rogue or not in order to avoid accidental rogue status. This will also work in groups, where if a group you are a part of goes rogue you will be able to decide if you want to leave the group or join them.

A PC free weekend is starting today, September 14th at 7 pm CEST. The free weekend is available on both Uplay and Steam and it will be running until September 17th 10 PM CEST. More information regarding the free weekend can be found here.

Earlier this week we have performed an additional ban wave against players who were found to have exploited the so-called RPM Glitch. Remember that this glitch is a bannable offense, and more ban waves will be implemented if necessary. Multiple offenses will result in a permanent ban to player accounts.


On Tuesday, 19th of September we will be deploying Update 1.7.1 on all platforms. This update will include fixes for the so-called RPM glitch, the sniper jamming bug as well as a number of fixes aimed at reducing desync and improving the overall quality of play. This is a part of the ongoing effort to minimize latency and desync problems experienced by our players.

We are aiming to start the 1.8 PTS on September 26th on all platforms. The exact criteria and invite process for the consoles is still not set in stone, but if you had access to the 1.7 PTS you will automatically have access to the 1.8 PTS. We will also be sending out additional invitations via email, and to be able to receive these, you will need to be opted-in to receive communication from Ubisoft. Remember to tick that box if you are interested in participating!

The next Global Event “Assault” will start on October 3rd. The theme of this event will be proximity to the enemy. Enemies will do less damage the closer you are to them and they will do additional damage the further away you are, so make sure to get up close and personal! Assault will introduce the classified versions of the Striker’s Battlegear, Sentry’s Call and Reclaimer gear sets and following the conclusion of the event, these classified sets will become available in the general loot pool of the game.

As always, be sure to join us over on the Official Forums or on the community Reddit if you’re looking for a place to discuss all things related to The Division.

Until next time!

The Division Dev Team

Agents, incoming State of the Game transmission:

During the last State of the Game, Community Developer Petter Mårtensson met with Creative Director Terry Spier and Lead Designer Keith Evans from Red Storm Entertainment to preview the upcoming 4-player PvP mode, Skirmish coming in Update 1.8.

This week, Community Developer Hamish Bode was joined by Terry and Keith to provide an exclusive look at the new PvE horde mode, Resistance as well as the Rogue 2.0 mechanics meant to overhaul the Dark Zone experience.

If you missed the stream, you check out the VoD and if you are on currently on the move, you can also catch up using the Podcast recap!


Weekly maintenance occurred this morning with no issues.

Resistance is a new wave based horde PvE mode coming to Update 1.8. Resistance will surely put even the most skilled teams to the test, as enemies will become stronger and increasingly more dangerous for every stage that’s successfully cleared. Check out the VoD of today’s stream for a detailed interview with Terry and Keith as they get into the gritty details of the game mode.

Rogue 2.0 aims to refine the Dark Zone’s mechanics while still retaining its identity as a tension filled, high risk environment. Amongst other changes, you will now be able to choose if you want to go rogue or not in order to avoid accidental rogue status. This will also work in groups, where if a group you are a part of goes rogue you will be able to decide if you want to leave the group or join them.

A PC free weekend is starting today, September 14th at 7 pm CEST. The free weekend is available on both Uplay and Steam and it will be running until September 17th 10 PM CEST. More information regarding the free weekend can be found here.

Earlier this week we have performed an additional ban wave against players who were found to have exploited the so-called RPM Glitch. Remember that this glitch is a bannable offense, and more ban waves will be implemented if necessary. Multiple offenses will result in a permanent ban to player accounts.


On Tuesday, 19th of September we will be deploying Update 1.7.1 on all platforms. This update will include fixes for the so-called RPM glitch, the sniper jamming bug as well as a number of fixes aimed at reducing desync and improving the overall quality of play. This is a part of the ongoing effort to minimize latency and desync problems experienced by our players.

We are aiming to start the 1.8 PTS on September 26th on all platforms. The exact criteria and invite process for the consoles is still not set in stone, but if you had access to the 1.7 PTS you will automatically have access to the 1.8 PTS. We will also be sending out additional invitations via email, and to be able to receive these, you will need to be opted-in to receive communication from Ubisoft. Remember to tick that box if you are interested in participating!

The next Global Event “Assault” will start on October 3rd. The theme of this event will be proximity to the enemy. Enemies will do less damage the closer you are to them and they will do additional damage the further away you are, so make sure to get up close and personal! Assault will introduce the classified versions of the Striker’s Battlegear, Sentry’s Call and Reclaimer gear sets and following the conclusion of the event, these classified sets will become available in the general loot pool of the game.

As always, be sure to join us over on the Official Forums or on the community Reddit if you’re looking for a place to discuss all things related to The Division.

Until next time!

The Division Dev Team

This weekend, all PC players will be able to play Tom Clancy’s The Division, for free! Have you been waiting for a chance to take back New York with your friends? Play all weekend, from September 14th to 17th!

After you have had a taste of a transformed New York City, head to the Ubisoft Store and you’ll get up to 60% off when you purchase the game – these sales are available for a limited time. Your progression will be saved in case of purchase.


You can access the Free Weekend during the following times:

• From September 14th 7pm CEST to September 17th 10pm CEST
  
• Pre-load will be available on Uplay PC starting September 12th 6pm CEST.

See you in Manhattan!

This weekend, all PC players will be able to play Tom Clancy’s The Division, for free! Have you been waiting for a chance to take back New York with your friends? Play all weekend, from September 14th to 17th!

After you have had a taste of a transformed New York City, head to the Ubisoft Store and you’ll get up to 60% off when you purchase the game – these sales are available for a limited time. Your progression will be saved in case of purchase.


You can access the Free Weekend during the following times:

• From September 14th 7pm CEST to September 17th 10pm CEST
  
• Pre-load will be available on Uplay PC starting September 12th 6pm CEST.

See you in Manhattan!

Agents!

We recognize that PvP is a huge part of The Division, and it’s time to expand on the offering. New to Update 1.8 PvP is Skirmish—a 4v4 Team Deathmatch mode without enemy faction interference or objectives.


The game mode itself is simple—TDM with the first team to reach a total number-of-kills taking the match. Short time limits will be implemented to keep matches fast-paced, and Last Stand PvP normalization applies to keep Agents at the same tier in Skirmish. While all equipped gear statistics are max’ed to full power here, Agents will have to rely on their build-tuning to dominate the competition.

Players who wish to participate in the new PvP mode can access Skirmish from the new Camp Clinton social space as well as the Last Stand Hub within the Terminal. The option to queue into Skirmish from the mega-map is also available.


Skirmish will feature three PvP-focused maps within West Side Piers. While we can’t reveal too much just yet, these arenas offer a variety of options in terms of lanes, cover, and overall flow. This promotes build diversity and encourages a variety of playstyles that Agents will need to win as a team. Our goal was to deliver an experience that keeps players in the action, and we’re confident that players will find excitement behind every corner.


Skirmish utilizes a dynamic wave spawner to push squadmates into the action together. Agents who respawn within seconds of one another will re-enter the match simultaneously to promote balanced firefights. For the Agents who worry about spawn camping, fear not. Skirmish also employs spawn swapping based on enemy team proximity.


At its core, Skirmish creates an opportunity for players to face off in arenas without AI complicating their engagements. Nothing will come between players who desire a focused PvP experience. Remember that Update 1.8 has even more content on the way! We’ll have more information rolling out in the near-future.

/ The Division Dev Team

Agents!

We recognize that PvP is a huge part of The Division, and it’s time to expand on the offering. New to Update 1.8 PvP is Skirmish—a 4v4 Team Deathmatch mode without enemy faction interference or objectives.


The game mode itself is simple—TDM with the first team to reach a total number-of-kills taking the match. Short time limits will be implemented to keep matches fast-paced, and Last Stand PvP normalization applies to keep Agents at the same tier in Skirmish. While all equipped gear statistics are max’ed to full power here, Agents will have to rely on their build-tuning to dominate the competition.

Players who wish to participate in the new PvP mode can access Skirmish from the new Camp Clinton social space as well as the Last Stand Hub within the Terminal. The option to queue into Skirmish from the mega-map is also available.


Skirmish will feature three PvP-focused maps within West Side Piers. While we can’t reveal too much just yet, these arenas offer a variety of options in terms of lanes, cover, and overall flow. This promotes build diversity and encourages a variety of playstyles that Agents will need to win as a team. Our goal was to deliver an experience that keeps players in the action, and we’re confident that players will find excitement behind every corner.


Skirmish utilizes a dynamic wave spawner to push squadmates into the action together. Agents who respawn within seconds of one another will re-enter the match simultaneously to promote balanced firefights. For the Agents who worry about spawn camping, fear not. Skirmish also employs spawn swapping based on enemy team proximity.


At its core, Skirmish creates an opportunity for players to face off in arenas without AI complicating their engagements. Nothing will come between players who desire a focused PvP experience. Remember that Update 1.8 has even more content on the way! We’ll have more information rolling out in the near-future.

/ The Division Dev Team

Agents!

We are well into Year 2 for The Division, and we felt it was time to raise the stakes. We have heard the community’s requests for more content since launch, and we’ve been working hard to deliver new experiences to our players. For the first time in The Division, we are expanding the PvE open world in our newest map expansion—West Side Piers—available to everyone for free in Update 1.8.


West Side Piers is located farther north of Camp Hudson on the western border of Manhattan. Scaled to about the size of two named zones, the map expansion grants players access to previously unexplorable NYC terrain. WSP is large enough to split into two pieces for reference—North and South. Offering players the opportunity to escape the crowded landscape, the NYC skyline is now visible alongside the iconic aircraft carrier—the Intrepid. We hope players appreciate this breath of fresh air as much as we do.




West Side Piers will also come with a new Forward Operations Center. In Update 1.8, the new hub for all things West Side Piers is Camp Clinton. Camp Clinton will feature all things Division Agents will need to prepare for the field—ammunition restock, recalibration stations, weapon/gear vendors, and much more. Without giving away too much, Camp Clinton is the place to set up shop in this update.


Introduced in WSP is the concept of enemy factions working together for the very first time. Allied LMB, Rikers, Cleaners, and Rioters are united on the offensive for unknown reasons. As the player, it is your job to take back the area and uncover the mystery through a series of audio logs. You’ll find dozens that will add to the lore of The Division.


A new dynamic AI generator will be integrated into West Side Piers to change the way players experience PVE content. As Agents travel the zone, enemy factions will spawn unexpectedly in proximity to players. This system brings the combat directly to all Agents, and no two play sessions will feel the same.


With this new procedural spawning in place for enemies, players have the option of participating in two types of activities in West Side Piers. As the first activity, West Side Piers Side Missions will always offer a specific objective for players to complete in the zone. With one mission active in the North as well as the South, these replayable objectives will keep Agents on the move.

The second option, Assignments, are lighter and more passive activities comparable to the current Daily Combat Assignments. These challenges are timed events and can only be completed within a limited window. While only one Assignment can be active at a time, another will automatically be activated and shown on the HUD after the previous event timer closes.


We’ve heard the call for more open world gameplay, and we can’t wait for players to uncover all that’s waiting for them in the West Side Piers expansion. This is the first of many articles detailing the exciting new content coming with Update 1.8. Stay tuned for future updates and an in-depth look at what’s in store.

/ The Division Dev Team

Agents!

We are well into Year 2 for The Division, and we felt it was time to raise the stakes. We have heard the community’s requests for more content since launch, and we’ve been working hard to deliver new experiences to our players. For the first time in The Division, we are expanding the PvE open world in our newest map expansion—West Side Piers—available to everyone for free in Update 1.8.


West Side Piers is located farther north of Camp Hudson on the western border of Manhattan. Scaled to about the size of two named zones, the map expansion grants players access to previously unexplorable NYC terrain. WSP is large enough to split into two pieces for reference—North and South. Offering players the opportunity to escape the crowded landscape, the NYC skyline is now visible alongside the iconic aircraft carrier—the Intrepid. We hope players appreciate this breath of fresh air as much as we do.




West Side Piers will also come with a new Forward Operations Center. In Update 1.8, the new hub for all things West Side Piers is Camp Clinton. Camp Clinton will feature all things Division Agents will need to prepare for the field—ammunition restock, recalibration stations, weapon/gear vendors, and much more. Without giving away too much, Camp Clinton is the place to set up shop in this update.


Introduced in WSP is the concept of enemy factions working together for the very first time. Allied LMB, Rikers, Cleaners, and Rioters are united on the offensive for unknown reasons. As the player, it is your job to take back the area and uncover the mystery through a series of audio logs. You’ll find dozens that will add to the lore of The Division.


A new dynamic AI generator will be integrated into West Side Piers to change the way players experience PVE content. As Agents travel the zone, enemy factions will spawn unexpectedly in proximity to players. This system brings the combat directly to all Agents, and no two play sessions will feel the same.


With this new procedural spawning in place for enemies, players have the option of participating in two types of activities in West Side Piers. As the first activity, West Side Piers Side Missions will always offer a specific objective for players to complete in the zone. With one mission active in the North as well as the South, these replayable objectives will keep Agents on the move.

The second option, Assignments, are lighter and more passive activities comparable to the current Daily Combat Assignments. These challenges are timed events and can only be completed within a limited window. While only one Assignment can be active at a time, another will automatically be activated and shown on the HUD after the previous event timer closes.


We’ve heard the call for more open world gameplay, and we can’t wait for players to uncover all that’s waiting for them in the West Side Piers expansion. This is the first of many articles detailing the exciting new content coming with Update 1.8. Stay tuned for future updates and an in-depth look at what’s in store.

/ The Division Dev Team