At E3 2015, Ubisoft revealed The Division's multiplayer PvP Dark Zones for the first time. In these highly contaminated and quarantined areas of New York, anything can happen. Players can enter these zones seamlessly from the main game and either form groups to work together, or turn against other players to steal their hard-earned loot. Massive Entertainment's Ryan Barnard said it's all about the fear and paranoia of playing in a place where you can trust no one, and the gameplay demo certainly seemed to accentuate that tense, eerie atmosphere.
As a team of two made their way into one of the playable Dark Zones, they not only found enemies from the new Reicher faction, taking the form of snipers, rushers and assault characters, but they also encountered three other human players as well. For a moment, it seemed like everything would erupt in a huge gunfight, but fortunately the other players were friendly, making it much easier to take out the awaiting hordes.
Dealing with enemy AI is one thing, but getting you and your contaminated loot out of the Dead Zone is another thing entirely, and it's here where your fragile bonds of trust will really be put to the test. After all, it's only once you extract your loot that you can equip it, so you'll need to hold your ground for 90 seconds before you can leave the area and claim your prize. However, as we saw in the gameplay trailer, the team of five quickly dwindled to just one as everyone made a last-minute dash for everyone's hard-won gear. Groups not only turned against each other, but players also turned on their own team mates by leaving their group, effectively abandoning their friends in favour of their own gear.
The Division will be launching for Xbox One, PS4 and PC on 8th March 2016. However, Xbox One players will be able to get a sneak peak of the game earlier than other format owners, as Ubisoft announced that an exclusive Xbox One beta will be hitting consoles this December. PS4 and PC owners, meanwhile, will have to wait until early next year before they can test the waters of Ubisoft's latest online action RPG.
