The Division Day unveils Descent mode and new Heartland and Resurgence gameplay

Ubisoft has used its annual The Division Day to give fans an insight into its future plans for the future of The Division series, and there’s plenty in store for those who love the Tom Clancy shooter.

We were fortunate enough to attend an early preview of today’s Division Day presentation, and also got to speak with series director Yannick Banchereau on these future plans. Said plans kicked off with a Year 5 of content for The Division 2 – the most recent game of the series. Known as Broken Wings, it’ll feature four full seasons with a bunch of new features including an entirely new game mode.

The Division 2 – Descent Mode and Year 5

It’s called Descent, and will see agents given the opportunity to take on a new rogue-lite challenge, set in a simulation in an underground bunker. You’ll progress through a series of rooms, and doing so will net you rewards including a Descent specific currency, which can be spent on upgrades between each level. Between rooms, you’ll also get to pick a talent – which can stack to increase their effects. After a certain number of levels, you’ll face a boss – who’ll give you even greater rewards should you defeat them with a major buff or even an ‘exotic’ talent.

All the while, you’ll be building up a Nemesis gauge – which will go up more slowly the longer you take to clear a room – and when that fills, you’ll go up against the toughest challenge – a doppelganger of yourself with the same equipment and abilities as you. They’ll provide the ultimate test of skill – but offer a huge amount of NSA Tech as a reward that can be spent on permanent upgrades.

Speaking on the new mode, Yannick told us: “The intention in developing Descent is to make a mode that anyone can play. It’s great for new players because you don’t need a character or any gear to start playing. It’s not a standalone game because you are still playing within the elements of The Division 2. But when it comes to the experience and the knowledge required to play the game, it can be considered standalone.”

Descent isn’t the only addition in Year 5 either, with three more seasons of content after that. While details on specifics are being held for closer to their release, they’ll include a new Incursion in Season 2, and a return to New York in Season 3 – while Season 4 will include new story DLC and a brand new endgame structure, although these additions will require players to own the Warlords of New York expansion.

“It was always the play to bring lapsed players into Year 5,” says Yannick. “And Descent is a nice mode for players who don’t want to grind for the same gear. And it will allow players to do things that they couldn’t do in the main game. The incursion is going to be a great challenge for our hardcore players. The story DLC is also a great opportunity to bring back our lapsed players who are just interested in exploring new worlds and learning more about the story.”

“Overall, the fact that the story in general is becoming more ambitious and more meaningful, that can also help bring back lapsed players because it’s not just about the DLC. It’s realizing that the world of The Division franchise is moving forward. And all of the events that happened in The Division 2 are setting the stage on where the franchise is going.”

The Division Heartland and Resurgence

Speaking of where the franchise is going, The Division Day also showcased gameplay from two new upcoming The Division titles – mobile title The Division Resurgence and The Division Heartland, a free to play offering for consoles and PC.

Starting off with The Division Resurgence, we’re promised not just a loosely related spin-off, but a “full fledged Division experience for mobile” which will be playable both solo and in co-op. It’ll be set between the first two Division games, and have its first test Summer – which you can sign up for right now. Ubisoft will also sweeten the pot by offering a special JTF outfit for pre-registering.

The Division Heartland, meanwhile, is also an entirely new Division game – and from what we saw, almost looks like a The Division 3 or – at the very least – a Division 2.5. It changes things up by eschewing the city setting of the other games for countryside and farmyards of heartland America in a place called Silver Creek. We’re teased that “the virus is different here” – although we’re not shown how, as of yet. However, one major difference is that hydration will be a major factor.

Whereas in other Division games you may have been searching for water supplies for the survivors in the various camps and outposts, here you’ll have to manage your own hydration – and keep on top of it similar to how you’d keep an eye on your health. It’ll certainly make for some interesting changes to the usual formula – and you’d presume means battles can’t be won by just waiting them out.

It’ll be a living game of course – with new features and events added on a regular basis, and your home base will be an abandoned roller derby rink that’ll also serve as the game’s social hub – where you’ll meet up with and decide to squad up with other players before heading out on missions.

A PC only closed beta will be held for The Division Heartland – and players are being invited to register their interest – with more news coming later this summer. However, Ubisoft did confirm that every invite to the closed beta will come with five invites to give to pals – or enemies.

It’s certainly a fairly exciting time for The Division fans – and Yannick made clear to us that Ubisoft hopes you’ll play all three. “All three games within The Division franchise – The Division 2, The Division Heartland and The Division Resurgence – offer three different experiences. That said, regardless which Division game you are playing, you are a Division Agent. And playing each of these games will allow you to learn more about what is happening in the overall Division storyline.”

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