In The Division, we discuss whether the MMO shooter can ever regain its former glory. This question likely also depends on Destiny.
The Division is not a competitive multiplayer shooter like Battlefield 1, Call of Duty, or Titanfall 2. The PvP area is expressed in a completely different way. Instead, The Division is an online open-world RPG, an MMO shooter where everything revolves around loot and the progress of agents. In this category and at this quality, there is basically only one contender on the PS4 and Xbox One consoles: Destiny.
Currently, Destiny is the undisputed “winner” in this genre. At the end of September, the third year of this successful MMO shooter began, and it still offers exciting content for countless Guardians. However, Destiny is slowly entering a phase where the cry for new content is becoming louder. This opens the door for The Division.
Update 1.4 is just the first step of a fresh start
The Division was released in early March 2016 at a favorable time. The last DLC for Destiny had been months ago, and the April update was still more than a month away. The gamers’ thirst for “MMO shooter” content was high, which is why many Guardians peaked into the post-apocalyptic New York and were on the move as agents. It was not uncommon to read: “Destiny is dead, The Division is much better!” For a few months now, the statements are exactly the opposite.
Massive has now responded to all the criticism about The Division with Update 1.4, and many agents are full of praise for the numerous innovations. However, the patch did not add one important thing: New, fresh content. No new activities were added; only the existing ones were ruthlessly overhauled.
Currently, there is no talk of a fresh start: Some agents are cautiously peeking back into the shared-world shooter, but they cannot really do anything “new”. On top of that, one is currently showered with relevant loot, so one quickly reaches the maximum level, and for many, there is no long-term motivation.
Players need content for the winter
For months, The Division 1.4 will not be able to engage the agents – but it doesn’t have to. Because “soon”, the Survival Update is expected to be released and provide new gameplay content. Additionally, “Last Stand”, the last major expansion included in the season pass, is expected at the beginning of 2017. Massive still has two aces up its sleeve to win the agents back in the near future.
Destiny is currently doing exceptionally well: Just this week, the first challenge mode in the “Wrath of the Machine” raid launched. Moreover, the Festival of the Lost is still ongoing. However, the maximum light level of 400 can already be reached – and many Guardians have already achieved it. “Rise of Iron” doesn’t have many irons in the fire left to bridge the time until the next big thing – presumably Destiny 2.
In December, there is still expected to be a larger event around the Sparrow Racing League, but a Sparrow race is not everyone’s cup of tea. And how things will progress in Destiny remains to be seen. It is possible that this MMO shooter will once again fall into a bit of hibernation, as it did last year, until new content or events are offered in the spring.
This time can be utilized by The Division if Massive delivers high-quality and mostly bug-free content. Many Guardians will undoubtedly be happy if there is something to do as an agent again, once the worthwhile Guardian activities thin out.
We do not know what the future holds for The Division. Perhaps a strong fresh start is achieved in the coming weeks and months. But it is certainly beneficial for both MMO shooters to have each other as “rivals”. If The Division blossoms again, Bungie will have to react and make Destiny profitable again. Competition indeed stimulates business. And players should benefit from it.
For the player base to look back at The Division, there will likely need to be a quieter period for Destiny first.
Note: We obtained the title image from Forbes.
What do you think? Can The Division regain its former glory and popularity?
