Division 2, year 1

Ubisoft has laid out the roadmap for the first year of free additional content for The Division 2. The first Episode (expansion) launches next month. Form the press release:

• Episode 1 D.C. Outskirts: Expeditions - July 2019 Episode 1 is all about exploration. Agents will scope out the outskirts and woodlands of Washington DC, as well as discovering the 11 biomes of the Washington National Zoo. The hunt is on to find the leader of the Outcasts and President Ellis.

These Expeditions from Episode 1 will offer a lasting reason to return to the game as the ability to progress through the wings of Trinity College is only meted out week by week. Then in the fall comes the next Episode, again from the press release:

• Episode 2 Pentagon: The Last Castle – Fall 2019: Taking place at the Pentagon, players in Episode 2 will experience escalation in DC. The Black Tusks continue to wreak havoc around the city and it’s up to the Agents to stop them. In Episode 2 main missions players must fight to solve the ongoing outbreak crisis. Agents have to defend the Pentagon, and its secrets from the Black Tusk.

This will introduce the second 8-player raid to the game as you battle thought the depths of an iron foundry. Hopefully this time the raid will be a little more balanced for the console players out there... Then comes Episode 3 next year, from the press release:

• Episode 3 Coney Island: Homecoming – Early 2020: A showdown takes place in Episode 3 that will lead players to Coney Island. Agents will encounter new challenges as they must stop a familiar nemesis and face the biggest threat of all.

So how are we going to get geared up for all this? Well, if you haven't played the Division 2 yet, you've got a free weekend starting tomorrow to get in the game. The Division 2 is available on Xbox, PS4, PC, Google's new Stadia service, and Ubisoft's subscription based Uplay+. All platforms (except Stadia because, well, it isn't actually available yet) will be participating in the free weekend, which will run from the 13th to the 16th of June. Like what you see? All progress in the free weekend will cary over to to a game purchase, and the full game is also being offered for 40% across the various digital storefronts through June 24th. 

The Division 2 is an excellent looter-shooter and I was happy to give it an 8.8 in my review. It hit the ground running and gets so much right from the release, an unfortunate rarity in this day and age of that genre. Here's hoping the roadmap lives up to the promise and continue moving from strength to strength off an excellent launch.