A full year of free content is planned along with the Year 1 Pass.
Update 3/4: While there was some initial discrepancy on the end time, The Division 2’s open beta ends on March 5 at 1 am PT/4 am ET/10 am CET/6 pm AET.
For those still playing, IGN has over 40 tips and tricks for The Division 2’s open beta, including tips for combat, multiplayer, and for just starting your adventure. Additionally, be sure to read IGN’s opinion piece about how The Division 2 can capitalize on the shortcomings of Anthem at its launch.
And if you’d like to see a little friendly competition, be sure to check out IGN’s showdown with Bleacher Report in The Division 2 below.
Update 2/28: Ubisoft has released a new trailer for The Division 2, called Enter the Dark Zone. It details the story behind these infamous quarantine zones that will test players through PvP combat, allowing them to obtain rare loot in the process. Check out the trailer below.
The previous update follows:
Update 2/27: Ubisoft has announced details for The Division 2’s first year of free post-launch content and some info on what’s coming with the Year 1 Pass.
The free post-launch content includes new episodes, additional narratives and missions, new PvP and PvE modes and new specializations that each include a new signature weapon and skill tree to unlock.
Tidal Basin, which is coming shortly after launch, will “reveal a new challenging stronghold held by the Black Tusks.” Operation Dark Hours is also coming soon after launch, and will be an 8-player raid: a franchise first for The Division.
Episode 1: D.C. Outskirts – Expeditions is coming summer 2019 and will be based in the surrounding areas of Washington in two additional main missions and a new game mode that investigates the fate of a lost convoy.
Episode 2: Pentagon – The Last Castle is coming fall 2019 and will have new main missions involving players storming the Pentagon to unveil hidden secrets.
Episode 3 will be released in winter 2019, allegedly closing the first chapter of The Division 2’s story.
The Year 1 Pass, which comes with the Gold and Digital Ultimate Editions of the game, can be purchased separately for $40. This includes seven-day early access to all year one episodes, instant access to all year one specializations as they are released, eight classified assignments that reveal more about the fall of Washington D.C. and exclusive cosmetics, base of operations projects and bounties.
The original story is as follows:
Ubisoft has revealed details for the upcoming Open Beta for The Division 2, which will be dropping next week.
Announced through Twitter with additional details shared on the official Division 2 website, the Open Beta spanning from March 1-4 on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One will include three main missions, five side missions, a Dark Zone and more. Ubisoft also released an official Open Beta trailer, which can be viewed below.
The three missions available can be played on Normal or Hard modes, and they are the Grand Washington Hotel, Jefferson Trade Center, and Viewpoint Museum. Five optional side missions will also be available as players explore D.C., and parts of four named zones with varying levels of difficulty will be explorable: The White House (also your base of operations), Downtown East, The Federal Triangle and the Smithsonian.
Players are limited to one customizable character during the testing phase, and character progression will be capped at level eight. In addition, Dark Zone East, one of three Dark Zones included in the final game, will be playable. Dedicated 4v4 PvP will also be available to those who want to try it out. One mode, Skirmish, will be playable on the Stadium and Capitol Ruins maps.
Furthermore, Ubisoft revealed that the Open Beta will feature a portion of The Division 2’s end game. Once players complete Jefferson Trade Center at least once, you’ll gain access to an end-game mission that unlocks three level 30 characters on your account. When players log in with these characters, the end game mission will begin. Each of these characters comes with a different Specialization, and unlike in the Private Beta, this mission will be available as soon as players meet the requirements.
Ubisoft reiterated that the Open Beta is not under NDA, and encourages players to share their experiences using the game’s Photo Mode. Additionally, players who participate in the Open Beta will receive rewards in the form of a DC Patriot weapon skin, Capitol Hill arm patch, and supply crate and Capitol Hill backpack trophies.
In a separate post, Ubisoft detailed many of the updates that have occurred between the Private Beta and the Open Beta using player feedback. The biggest additions include the Viewpoint Museum mission, Capital Ruins in Skirmish, the level cap being raised from seven to eight, two additional settlement projects with a second upgrade of the Theater, and the Chem Launcher skill with two variants: Riot Foam and Explosive Vapor.
Other changes include weapon, armor and enemy behavior balances, and several bug fixes that address gameplay, the Dark Zone, skills, missions, NPCs, audio, UI and more.
Details on preload, start and end dates are all listed in the chart below, though players across the world will all be able to preload the beta on February 28, and start playing on March 1.
Ubisoft announced the Open Beta dates earlier this month following the Private Beta, which ran from February 7-10. Soon after the Open Beta finishes, players will be able to play the full version of The Division 2 when it’s released on March 15, 2019.
Colin Stevens is a news writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.
