Ubisoft Talks The Division: Snowdrop Engine, Next-Gen and More

In an interview with ElectronicTheatre, Ubisoft developer Massive revealed details of newly unveiled next gen IP The Division. The game is designed exclusively for the Playstation 4 and Xbox One.

The game's premise involves a human-made virus unraveling the city of New York. You are a member of the eponymous government agency (comparable to the FBI or CIA), tasked with finding the people responsible and helping get the city back on track. The developers reveal they have done some extensive research for the game to a near-uncomfortable degree, incorporating real life elements like Operation Dark Winter and Directive 51.

Interestingly, Ubisoft describes the game as an online, open-world RPG. Gameplay videos clearly show the game has cover-based FPS gameplay, but they've deflected attention on this to emphasize the game's other features, such as customization, looting, crafting, skill building and exploration. Players will be able to develop their gameplay styles based on the weapons and skills they use.

As has become de rigeur for next-gen games, The Division will run in a brand new engine called Snowdrop, optimized to capitalize on the PS4's and Xbox One's capabilities. The game will have a living world and complex AI, as well as new matchmaking technology and a mobile app to allow you to use smartphones and tablets with the game.

New York will be convincing, if not 100 % accurate. The city will be dynamic and persistent, such that it will keep creating random, convincing interactions and Massive will be able to keep adding features. 

As previously shown in gameplay demos, Division agents like your character will have smartwatches, which allow you to perform pulse scans in the environment and acquire information.

Massive promises player versus player as an important segment of the main game, as your character will be able to turn on the agency and act to help spread chaos in the city. Finally, Massive promises dedicated servers to support the game.

Source: ElectronicTheatre