The Division: 10 Brand New Details You Need To Know About

This isn't the game you thought it was. Not by a long shot.

Ubisoft's first big title of 2016 is finally emerging from the post-apocalyptic bunker they've had it cooped up in... and the result is something that looks completely different to what we were first shown back in 2013. The graphics have been 'downgraded' (more on that later), a string of officially-licensed, fan-made prequel films have attempted to give the series some levity from the very dour tone we originally saw, and across the board it looks as though all the rumours about Ubisoft rebuilding considerable parts of the experience were true. The Division is no longer a gritty, super-intense stroll through post-apocalyptic New York, instead it's... well, take a look for yourself.

10. Loot-Grinds Are The Name Of The Game

Now the cat's out the bag, there's no reason to hide it any more. Every weapon in The Division is colour-coded to match the increasingly-common 'tiers' of loot seen in games like Destiny and Diablo. That means you've got your 'Uncommons', 'Commons', 'Rares', 'Legendaries' etc., having icons coloured in bright hues to denote them as such. The hook of the game comes in exploring the world to see what's round the next corner, and that puts the focus entirely away from the sort of narrative hinted at in those earlier trailers. For many, this approach to how you'll play will be exactly the sort of thing they can indulge in for 30 minutes or 30 hours, but for others, it's a change in tact that's already drawing quite the venomous reaction in comment sections online.
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Gaming Editor
Gaming Editor

WhatCulture's Head of Gaming.