Summary
The Division 3has been officially announced. That said, players should note that it’s going to be a while before the game finally releases sinceStar Wars Outlawsas well asTheDivision Heartlandwill be arriving beforehand. Regardless, even the brief acknowledgment ofTheDivision 3is enough for series fans to get excited.
While many fans have already begun discussing potential and speculations about whatTheDivision 3might improve upon from the earlier games, one particular aspect of the game needs to be handled with special care. Following in the footsteps of the earlier games means thatThe Division 3’s setting has some big shoes to fill since the locations featured in the franchise so far have been considered among the best elements of each game. Ultimately, wherever it ends up taking place,Division 3has its work cut out to present another spectacular setting.
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The Division 3’s Setting Could be a Game-Changer
The originalThe Divisiongame isset in the iconic New York City, including underground metro lines and towering skyscraper locations. Also, the game takes place between the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, meaning that plenty of infrastructure and businesses have holiday decorations on display and that the streets are always covered in snow. While the post-apocalyptic holiday vibes make for a strong atmosphere in this game, certain noteworthy landmarks also add to the unsettling realism of the locale.
The Division 2took the series’ post-apocalyptic tropes to new heights by taking place in Washington DC, the United States capital. The environments and overall graphics for this entry in the franchise resulted in another incredibly detailed and realistic city for players to explore. Also, given its popularity, a portion of the originalThe Division’s New York map was eventually added toThe Division 2as a playable area, viathe Warlords of New York expansion.
After exploring dense American cities in such great detail, perhaps it’s time forTheDivisionfranchise to take place in an entirely new type of environment. Such a change in scenery would need to be carefully and properly executed, givenTheDivisionfranchise’s identity as a cover-based shooter at its core, but this is true no matterwhereThe Division 3takes place.
Other Ubisoft titles and even otherTom Clancyfranchise gamesare evidence that Ubisoft can create some interesting landmarks and destinations within the conventional features of the countryside, so it might be worth experimenting with at some point. Given the quality of the first twoThe Divisiongame’s settings, another derelict city is going to be hard to pull off, especially considering that the franchise has already adopted some of the most iconic American cities.
There’s still plenty more thatTheDivisionfranchise can do to keep its inner-city landscapes fresh, like taking things in a far more futuristic route, but it could prove to be for the best to move into uncharted territory. Whether it’s a step in the direction of a rural setting or a leap into the countryside, this kind of transition could be a great opportunity to solve a problem forTheDivisionfranchise before it ever exists.
The survival game mode from the originalThe Divisionwas a fan-favorite that unfortunately didn’t end up becoming available inThe Division 2. In the old survival game mode, the harsh winter climate forced players to maintain a healthy body temperature by acquiring proper clothing and staying near fire sources, all while surviving gunfights. Given thatThe Division 3is likely to stray away from both New York and Washington DC, the new setting could potentially bring back snow or other climate conditions that have an impact on gameplay. At the same time,The Division 3could also be a great time to revive the survival game mode itself.
The Division 3is currently in development.
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