The Division beta kicks off today for all the lucky sods on Xbox One, and tomorrow for everyone else on PC and PS4. It’s an MMO that Ubisoft has kept under wraps for years, only really letting information trickle out over the last few months. Because of that there’s still so much we don’t know about the game and how it al fits together, so much so that the first few moments of the beta might be a little confusing to most. Fear not though, because Ubisoft have our backs.
If you’re still unsure about how The Dark Zone differs to the standard PvE areas, or you want to know how to group up with buddies to explore Manhattan together, this is your one-stop guide. Ubisoft has compiled a nice short video showing you various ways to get ahead as soon as the beta goes live, lightly detailing some of the finer systems at works in The Division. Even if you’ve read all the previews possible, you’re likely to find some new information below.
I was especially impressed at how you update your frankly massive map of New York as you progress, with outposts and enemy positions being marked thanks to a little bit of indoor digging around. I suspect that the beta is going to be just a fraction f the open-world that the full game will offer, and the seamless transition between these areas is fascinating too. No more of that loading screen garbage between hub worlds, hey Destiny?
Also communication by Emotes in The Dark Zone has been in the game since I played it at E3 last year, and I still think it’s a genius design. Not giving direct microphone communication to players in the zone only escalates the tension, as you truly have to keep your eyes on anyone fickle friendships you make along the way. I still consider this the most alluring aspect of The Division, and I hope it pays off.
The beta kicks off in just a few hours, but if you’re not playing be sure to check out our Twitch and YouTube (once the beta goes live on Ps4, anyway) streams for some live gameplay. The Division is out on March 8th.
Last Updated: January 28, 2016
Geoffrey Tim
January 28, 2016 at 11:02
Unfortunately, it looks like the current Seacom issue is killing our stream.
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 28, 2016 at 11:07
Must be full of sea-men
VampyreSquirrel
January 28, 2016 at 11:21
SEACOM is experiencing a critical outage – 8:45 GMT
SEACOM is experiencing multiple outages on the terrestrial network
across Egypt. Transmission services across Egypt have been affected
since 06:00GMT on the 28th January 2016. SEACOM IP and MPLS
customers may experience increased latency as that traffic is re-routed
to alternative network paths.
Both cuts have been located and the teams are on site repairing the cable. ETR is 2 – 3 hours. Updates to follow.
HairyEwok
January 28, 2016 at 11:42
Cuts…. Why’s the network cable being emo :/
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 28, 2016 at 11:51
BWAHAHAHAHAHA
AfricanTime
January 28, 2016 at 12:31
So no streaming today?
VampyreSquirrel
January 28, 2016 at 11:06
There are already streams live on Twitch.
Check out http://www.twitch.tv/directory/game/Tom%20Clancy's%20The%20Division
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 28, 2016 at 11:08
LOL THE GAME JUST CRASHED!!!
VampyreSquirrel
January 28, 2016 at 11:12
Not surprising.
I told Ottokie that the servers aren’t ready until we’ve crashed it at least a few times.
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 28, 2016 at 11:12
Man, the dude’s face when it crashed, so much lol
Ottokie
January 28, 2016 at 11:24
Probably 80% of the players are on PC. If the servers go down only from Xbone then we are in for a loooooong night…. of warframe
VampyreSquirrel
January 28, 2016 at 11:25
I’ll revert to Diablo 3 😛
Ottokie
January 28, 2016 at 11:27
And now that Blade and Soul game that released is looking pretty cool. So much stuff only in January, I can’t keep up.
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 28, 2016 at 11:51
NICE
How many of the new mods have you got? I’ve only gotten 3 so far, and a gun-potato
Ottokie
January 28, 2016 at 11:53
I got the same mod 9 times in a row… rage quitted
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 28, 2016 at 11:56
I’ve got 7 from 15 runs. Should been 8 but acolyte no.4 bugged & didn’t drop anything, was the first time I went up against it too. Bah.
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 28, 2016 at 12:02
I see acolyte 4 is dead now :/
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 28, 2016 at 12:06
Don’t stress, we’ll get another chance at them during part 3 of the event. Plus they’re not disappearing completely once the event it done either.
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 28, 2016 at 12:07
Ah…
AC2 had 14% health left when I stopped last night
Hammersteyn
January 28, 2016 at 11:13
Hehehe good ole Ubisoft
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 28, 2016 at 11:15
It is actually so funny, the first time I watch a twitch stream….and it crashes after 1 minute
*dies laughing*
GooseZA
January 28, 2016 at 11:33
I’m sure it will be fine. Alpha was surprisingly solid.
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 28, 2016 at 11:11
Watching a stream now, the XBOX loading is soooooo long, I have grown a full beard while waiting
HairyEwok
January 28, 2016 at 11:43
Thank goodness PC Master Race have SSD XD
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 28, 2016 at 11:50
xD
VampyreSquirrel
January 28, 2016 at 11:13
I’ll be streaming over the course of the weekend on PC… will post on Twitter when I go live with links 😛
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 28, 2016 at 11:16
I’m not clicking your stream….ewwwww……
VampyreSquirrel
January 28, 2016 at 11:19
At least there won’t be any crossing of streams……….
Ottokie
January 28, 2016 at 11:16
For all those who want to hear my smexy voice 😛
VampyreSquirrel
January 28, 2016 at 11:18
I’ll mute you 😛
Ottokie
January 28, 2016 at 11:19
I will shoot you for loot 😛
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 28, 2016 at 11:19
Now I feel sad for missing out
Ottokie
January 28, 2016 at 11:21
There is still a lot of Beta keys being given out here and there
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 28, 2016 at 11:50
Now just WHERE exactly am I going to get time to download 26GB
Ottokie
January 28, 2016 at 11:55
Fly to EU, download and fly back 😛
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 28, 2016 at 12:13
Gimme a Liset and I’ll do it
VampyreSquirrel
January 28, 2016 at 12:06
I’ll give it to you… I downloaded it last night
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 28, 2016 at 12:13
Still need BETA key though :/
VampyreSquirrel
January 28, 2016 at 14:42
Better start trolling all the sites then
VampyreSquirrel
January 28, 2016 at 11:22
LOL
Ottokie
January 28, 2016 at 11:22
Pew Pew Pew
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 28, 2016 at 11:36
You’re not supposed to tell him that beforehand.
HairyEwok
January 28, 2016 at 11:41
Ubi still hasn’t send me that beta key…. Shame on you Ubi. And not Admiral, I do not want a key.
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 28, 2016 at 11:51
No?
HairyEwok
January 28, 2016 at 11:56
No…. Just no. You gave me enough keys to last a Dr. Who through the door episode.
HairyEwok
January 28, 2016 at 11:55
All of a sudden the Darkzone reminds me of Watch Dogs Contracts.