Ubisoft’s New Direction for The Division 2
For six years, players have immersed themselves in the world of The Division 2, a title that has seen a steady stream of updates, new modes, and seasonal revamps. Despite this ongoing support, a sense of stagnation has lingered, as alliances shift and familiar faces re-emerge, creating a cycle that feels all too predictable. However, the latest season, ‘The Pact,’ aims to disrupt this routine by uniting various enemy factions, potentially altering the power dynamics within the game’s universe.
As anticipation builds for the return of the original game’s extraction-style mode, known as Survivors, the introduction of Year 7 Season 2 has rekindled interest in the co-op experience. This season promises a compelling narrative that could pave the way for a future installment, possibly even The Division 3. It also redefines how players will engage with the open-world environment.
Chris Watters from Ubisoft highlights the significance of this update: “The Division 2 has long pit players against a diverse array of deadly factions. Those enemies are on the verge of uniting. Recent intel suggests the leadership of the True Sons, Outcasts, and Hyenas are planning to forge a pact—one powerful enough to shift the balance of power in D.C. and create the most dangerous threat The Division has faced yet.”
A standout feature of this update is the introduction of Retaliation, a new permanent activity that players will encounter across D.C., New York, and Brooklyn (for those with the respective expansions). This feature activates when a faction becomes destabilized, indicated by an ‘agitation meter’ on the map. Players will be tasked with retaking control points in regions under threat, facing timed challenges that add urgency to their missions.
To heighten the challenge, elite enemy ‘kill squads’ will ambush players as they navigate these zones. However, these encounters also present an opportunity, as they are a prime source for exotic blueprints. Players will receive additional challenges in the form of ‘maneuvers,’ which grant extra time for each completed task.
For those focused on optimizing their loadouts, this season introduces a targeted farming mechanism for exotic gear. Most blueprints are now faction-specific, allowing players to acquire them through drops from kill squads or by completing overall retaliation objectives. Even players without the Warlords of New York or Battle for Brooklyn DLC can still target Cleaners and Rikers exotics through caches available from Inaya at their base.
Ubisoft has also emphasized that the new retaliation events are the most efficient way to earn modifier XP for seasonal modifiers. With an increased focus on territory control, players will benefit from global bonuses to combat power based on their zone progress, unlocking active effects for each rival gang through the seasonal journey. This includes five universal and five faction-specific passive bonuses, enhancing gameplay depth.
As always, new gear accompanies the season’s launch. For players who prefer to tackle high-ranking enemies first, the Shroud exotic rifle boosts weapon damage against the most formidable foes. Conversely, those who prefer to eliminate lower-ranked opponents can benefit from the Overdogs exotic gloves, which enhance damage against weaker adversaries.
The Division 2 Year 7 Season 2, ‘The Pact,’ is now live. For a comprehensive overview of the changes, players can refer to the full patch notes released by Ubisoft.
As the community gears up for this new chapter, players are encouraged to check their systems against The Division 2 requirements before diving back into action. For those considering hardware upgrades, insights on the best graphics cards for 2025 are readily available.
Engagement with the community is encouraged, as players can share their thoughts on the new season in the PCGamesN Discord server. Whether players are eager to jump back into the fray or are hoping for news of The Division 3, the conversation is sure to be lively.
