In The Division 2, the Test Servers (PTS) for the new Title Update 6 are open, and Massive has released “flexible” patch notes. These show some changes to both PvP modes, Dark Zone and Conflict, and the developers’ willingness to respond to the wishes of the community.
What is PTS and when is Title Update 6 coming? There was already a “Public Test Server” phase for Title Update 5 of Division 2. PC players can test the new content and adjustments on this PTS in advance and directly influence development with their feedback.
The PTS phase for Title Update 6 has been running since yesterday until 01.10.2019. The update will likely be released within the following 2 to 3 weeks. However, “October” has only been confirmed as the release timeframe so far.
Massive has since released the preliminary patch notes, which outline planned changes in PvP and the Dark Zone.
PvP experience in Division 2 has been rather poor
Whether in the Dark Zone or Conflict, for a certain part of the player base, the PvP-based content in The Division 2 is hardly worth mentioning.
While the Dark Zone continues to attract brave agents due to its innovative gameplay design, the Conflict mode hardly receives any attention. Especially new players quickly abandon these modes after initial disappointments.
As a beginner without a high-powered squad, it is almost impossible to keep up with more experienced PvP players. Veterans, on their part, criticize the poor loot yield from these activities.
The PTS Changes in the Dark Zone
Despite some weaknesses, the Dark Zones in The Division 2 are for some players the core element of the entire game.
The zones combine PvE and PvP gameplay and constantly put the player under pressure due to the lurking danger of being ambushed by another player. Some items looted in the Dark Zone must be extracted to be retained and can be stolen by hostile agents until then.
What is currently going wrong in the Dark Zone? Player feedback varies greatly depending on their experience level in the Dark Zone. While beginners criticize the high entry level, veterans highlight the following points:
- Normalization makes specialized and optimized builds weaker – it hardly seems worth it to perfect them
- too poor rewards
- too few players on the servers
This is the current status of the planned Dark Zone changes: Massive released patch notes for the changes already available on the test servers from Title Update 6. However, the developers emphasize that these changes may be adjusted before release, as that is what the test server is for.
- Removing normalization in normal Dark Zones
- Normalization led to the dampening of agent stat peaks. A high specialization on specific stats was nullified. According to players, this is a reason for the low build diversity in the Dark Zones.
- Stat boost for lower gear levels
- The purpose of normalization was actually to give beginners a chance against the strong builds of veterans. After removing normalization, Massive is taking a different approach and boosting the stats of lower gear levels instead of weakening better builds.
- Dark Zone supply drops are being improved
- This will introduce new types of drops, and inactive points of interest can now also serve as spawn points for the drops. Additionally, multiple bosses can now get involved in the fight for the crate, and further factions may appear. In occupied Dark Zones, particularly valuable drops can occasionally happen, protected by Black Tusk enemies.
- The Thieves’ Den gets an upgrade
- The trader in the Thieves’ Den will now have a full-fledged equipment shop. Details about the offered goods and the rotation will be announced soon, but he will still only accept Dark Zone materials (such as morphine) as payment. Traders at the DZ entrances will receive revised offers and will accept DZ resources.
- More players in the instances
- Previously, the developers focused on a seamless transition from the open world to the Dark Zones. With the new update, there may be loading times when entering the DZ checkpoint, but a DZ instance with many players will be loaded. DZ matchmaking will therefore be revised.
Conflict Adjustments on the Test Server
The problems with Conflict: Conflict is a pure PvP mode. Agents compete in 4 vs. 4 in two modes. While in “Skirmish” you only fight against opponents to reach the kill limit, in “Domination” you defend taken positions against enemies.
The Conflict modes are also criticized for the poor loot yield and a lack of players and build diversity.
However, certain weaknesses in transparency also come into play here. For example, the game currently does not provide feedback on which buffs or bonuses the opponent is using.
What changes? With these changes, more agents are expected to dare to engage in Conflict:
- Players will now receive rewards after each game
- Extra rewards for a victory or leveling up
- Equipment sets can be changed during the map voting
- Buff symbols and bonus armor of opponents will be displayed
- The range of enemy skills will be shown when players are affected
- Many new audio and video sequences before, during, and after the match
Whether these changes will be enough to rekindle players’ interest in the Conflict modes remains to be seen. However, the developers’ commitment is evident, and they will continue to try to make pure PvP in The Division 2 more attractive.
What else is new in PvP? In addition to these larger changes, several smaller improvements have also made it into the update:
- User interface shows values depending on the area – in a PvP game, for example, the PvP talent versions will always be displayed
- More talents receive a PvP version
- Hacking a Dark Zone terminal shows nearby DZ resources
- Dark Zone will have a loot targeting area
- The Dark Zone project rotates daily between a Dark Zone project and a Conflict project
What changes do you wish to see in Division 2 PvP?
