Ubisoft's upcoming shooter The Division

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“ We're focusing a lot on the RPG aspects of the game since we are very much an RPG, so acquiring loot and gearing up your character is going to be a very big part of the game.

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That's according to a new interview with lead game designer Mathias Karlson and design director Axel Rydby, in which character gear, limited ammo and driving is also discussed.Given the state of the world in the game, food and water will have much greater value. Players will be expected to go foraging for both, but they'll serve as currency rather than be required for survival.When you start out in the always-online game, it'll apparently be with 72 hours-worth of basic equipment and supplies that aren't going to get you too far. This is where the RPG elements of the game come in, with Rydby explaining "Moving throughout the world, it's going to be a lot about looting and acquiring new gear as you progress. We're focusing a lot on the RPG aspects of the game since we are very much an RPG, so acquiring loot and gearing up your character is going to be a very big part of the game."But while the looting and gearing will bear hallmarks of the RPG genre, you won't be selecting a class upfront. Rather you refine your role as you make decisions playing the game. Apparently we should expect these choices to be "tough" but "fun" at the same time.While almost all the trailers have shown abandoned vehicles littering the streets, the team is being reserved when it comes to discussing whether or not you'll be able to use them. Again re-emphasising the survival elements of the game, Rydby hypothesised that if society fell and you have limited fuel, would you use it to make sure you can purify water, to fuel a generator to cook food, or to fuel a car? So while there's no official confirmation or denial over whether vehicles will be in the game, it certainly seems like you'll want to be sure of a big payoff for using one in order to risk your fuel that could be better used elsewhere.It seems like the final call has yet to be made any way, with Karlson saying, "The way you navigate and move through the city or a game that is open in nature, it's very core to how you experience the world. We are currently investigating what is the best for our game, what can we do to give you the best experience as a player because that is, in the end, what's most important to us."The Division is currently targeting a winter 2014 release on PS4, Xbox One and PC.Cheers, Examiner

Luke Karmali is IGN's UK Junior Editor. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on Twitter