The Division will require an always-online internet connection but Ubisoft is hoping its bold new take on RPG elements will be worth the hassle.
During a recent Q&A session for Ubisoft’s upcoming next-gen online post-apocalyptic shooter The Division, lead game designer Mathias Karlson and design director Axel Rydby confirmed some interesting new pieces of info about the game.
First off, The Division will not feature any sort of single-player or offline mode (though players can venture out on their own if they prefer) and will require a constant internet connection to run. The tone of the game is one of desperate struggle and survival and both Karlson and Rydby felt that the dynamic and persistent nature of an online world (as well as the constant threat of being attacked by other players) was essential to maintain both themes.
However, The Division won’t be an MMO in the traditional sense mainly because a player’s role won’t be picked at the beginning like a traditional RPG but will instead evolve along with the player’s choices. Ubisoft is making sure that a player’s character in The Division will never be locked into a single playstyle since, as in real life, one of the keys to survival is being able to adapt and multitask. Karlson and Rydby called this approach to character development “tough but fun.”
How well the game’s RPG elements will work has yet to be seen and hopefully Ubisoft will be able to expound more on some of The Division’s more nuanced gameplay systems before its release in Winter, 2014. For a sneak preview of the game’s brand new Snowdrop Engine in action, check out the below trailer.
