With 2018 behind us, we here at Xbox Wire decided that now would be the perfect time to start looking ahead to some of the big games coming out in 2019. There are already a lot of them on the books, many of which will be coming out during the first few months of the year. While there’s already a decent amount of info on these titles, we’ve found that it can be tough to figure out details with all of the information spread out across the web. So, with that in mind, we’ll be spending the rest of the year taking a closer look at some of 2019’s biggest games and pulling together as much info as we can into one place. Today, we’ll be taking a look at one of the upcoming year’s biggest and most highly-anticipated sequels: Tom Clancy’s The Division 2.

When was The Division 2 Announced?

The Division 2 was announced during the Xbox E3 2018 Press Conference on June 10, 2018. It’s a direct sequel to Tom Clancy’s The Division, which was released in March of 2016.

Who is developing The Division 2?

As with the first game, The Division 2 is being developed by Massive Entertainment, with Red Storm Entertainment handling some of the multiplayer-centric development duties.

When does The Division 2 take place?

The Division 2 takes place approximately seven months after “Black Friday,” the date when the virus was unleashed in New York City. While the original game took place in the dead of winter, The Division 2 is set during the following summer.

Where does The Division 2 take place?

The Division 2 takes places in Washington D.C. Interestingly, the developers shared that Seattle and New Orleans were also considered as locales for the game. The game’s Washington D.C. is about as close to a 1:1 recreation as possible thanks to a number of technological improvements. The Washington D.C. seen in The Division 2 will be broken up into six unique areas, including the suburbs of Georgetown and the monument-heavy Capitol area. One major change from the first game is that there will be a much wider variety of environments. Nature has taken its toll since the virus broke out, with flooded and overgrown areas that you will have to navigate through. Open, residential neighborhoods with longer sight lines and wider city blocks will contrast with dense commercial areas. Since it’s summer, you can expect a lot of greenery.

What is The Division 2’s story about?

Set in Washington D.C., the game takes place seven months after a deadly virus was released in New York City and the nation has become a shell of its former glory. While the virus has been contained, its effects are most evident in the devastated streets of the nation’s capital where survivors cling to hope and struggle to rebuild. You play as an agent of The Division, a unit of civilian sleeper agents who now must work to stop enemy factions from completely taking over the city – and ultimately, the nation. If Washington D.C. falls, the nation falls. With civilians helpless and fearing for their lives, players will be the last line of defense in preventing the total collapse of society.

What is the release date for The Division 2?

The Division 2 will be released on March 15, 2019.

Will there be a beta for The Division 2 before it is released?

Yes! There will be a beta for the game, although Ubisoft has not shared specific dates yet. If you’re interested in participating, you can pre-order the game or sign-up here for a chance to participate.

How many versions of Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 will be released?

The Standard Edition of the game is just that: the game itself, with the aforementioned pre-order bonus of beta participation. The Gold Edition includes three-day early access to the game starting on March 12. It also includes the Year One Pass, which grants players seven-day early access to the free Year One DLC Episodes, which will include customization items, new activities and more. The Gold Edition on Ubisoft’s website includes a steelbook case and runs $110 US.

The Digital Ultimate Edition includes all of the above, as well as three additional digital packs: the Elite Agent Pack, Battleworn Secret Service Pack and the First Responder Pack.

Lastly, there are two Collector’s Editions of the game incoming: the Dark Zone Collector’s Edition and the Phoenix Shield Collector’s Editions.

Are there any plans for post-launch content for The Division 2?

On The Division 2 Blog, the game’s Creative Director confirmed that there will be free content updates for the game in the first year after release. “We will be launching three DLCs in the form of episodes: each one will bring new story, new areas to explore, and new activities,” Julian Gerighty said. “And the best part, all of these episodes will be complete free. For everyone.” The free content will feature “a year’s worth of story-driven missions, map expansions, and new modes,”

What sort of endgame content will The Division 2 feature?

From the very start, the developers of The Division 2 said that the game is being created with an “endgame-first mentality” that will ensure plenty of reasons to keep playing after you hit the max level of 30. Once you hit that level cap, you’ll be able to select a Specialization. Each Specialization, like Sharpshooter, Demolitionist, or Survivalist, comes with its own progression path. These paths introduce new skill mods, talents, and tools, including brand new signature weapons. As you further customize your Agent, you’ll also have access to a wealth of PvP experiences, including a fully revamped Dark Zone experience. Additionally, in a first for the franchise, eight-player raids will make their way to The Division 2. These challenging missions will test the skill, communication, and teamwork of even the most expert Agents.

Previous coverage of The Division 2 on Xbox Wire:

Thanks for reading. On Thursday we’ll take a closer look at Capcom’s Devil May Cry 5.