On July 19th, the State of the Game aired, Massive’s livestream regarding The Division. Among other things, there was information about a new Shield, the Global Event, and a bug that is set to be fixed. We have summarized all the important info for you.
The 102nd State of the Game just aired, and Massive had a few interesting updates. While there was no direct confirmation of the date for the next Global Event alongside a new Shield, they made it quite clear when it is expected to happen. Bug fixes and balance updates were also mentioned.
For fans of comics and books related to The Division, it is also interesting that Julian Gerighty, Creative Director of Massive, is currently at the Comic Convention and had some announcements with him.
What is the State of the Game? In the State of the Game, the developers speak directly to the fans, present new updates and events, or address suggestions and creations from the community.
New Shield “Holy” Available – Going Underground
As of today, July 19th, the new Shield is online. This will lead you underground and is named “Holy”.
What do you need to complete the Shield? You must
- complete 10 phases underground,
- reach level ten and
- kill ten Hunters
They are aware of the problem that the underground is part of a paid DLC. Therefore, it will be free from July 19th until July 26th. During this time, you can test all the contents of the Underground DLC for free and complete the Shield.
What are the Shields anyway? These new achievements are meant to provide various smaller rewards for the agents in both The Division 1 and 2, and will be released monthly. You can find more information about it with us.
Massive on the “Running in Place” Bug and the Classified Striker
The “Running in Place” bug, which is currently a big topic in the community, has finally come to Massive’s attention. They definitely want to solve this problem, but unfortunately, there is currently no date for a possible patch. Although the development of The Division 2 is a top priority right now, they do not want to leave the community with such problems.
You can read about what this bug entails and how significantly it affects the game with us.
Balance Change May Be Coming
Classified Striker and Showstopper a Problem? Also discussed is the current situation with the secret Striker set, which is currently considered the strongest – too strong according to most of the community. Part of the problem is the exotic shotgun “Showstopper”. Especially on consoles, in conjunction with the CronusMax tool, it causes discontent.
Here, too, there is no timeline for when a solution is expected. Nevertheless, it is encouraging that at least some fundamental issues are being addressed.
Massive asks for understanding that not all bugs and glitches can be fixed, as there simply hasn’t been a solution for some and resources are mainly focused on the development of the sequel.
Via reddit you can actively participate in discussions and give feedback on the secret Striker.
Global Event “Assault” Coming This July – But When?
Somewhat strangely, the statements about the upcoming Global Event were made. It is set to appear later in July, just not next week. They do not yet have a date and cannot say when Assault starts.
The thing is: July doesn’t have much time left. Following the process of elimination, only Monday, July 30th, and Tuesday, July 31st, remain for the launch of the Global Event. As these have mostly started on a Tuesday, the assumption is that July 31st is the most likely start date.
Which Classified sets can be purchased in containers during the Global Event? In this event, you can look forward to the secret Watcher set, the Striker set, and the Technician set.
These are the modifiers of the Global Event:
- Global Modifier: Agents deal increased damage to enemies at close range.
- Activity Modifier: Enemies deal increased damage to you at long range.
- Group Modifier: Stay close together to deal more damage.
While the Global Modifier is always active, you can optionally enable the other two modifiers for some activities. You receive additional rewards upon successful completion.
The Division at the Comic Convention – Comics, Lore Book, and Novel Announced
Julian Gerighty (Creative Director) is currently at the Comic Con and had some announcements. In addition to comics and a lore book, there is also a new novel in the works.
Cooperation with Dark Horse Comics. For comic fans among you, this brand should be no stranger. In collaboration with Massive.
Author of the first Division novel back on board: They are also working on a new novel. The author will once again be Alexander Irvine, who previously wrote the novel “New York Collapse”.
Furthermore, a book about the background of the Division universe is planned. The 192-page hardcover book is expected to provide extensive information about the conflicts in Washington D.C. and New York.
When is all this expected to be released? No exact dates are available yet. However, as it stands, both the comics, the novel, and the lore book are set to release in March 2019. This is also plausible, as The Division 2 is expected to launch in that month.
All Info from the State of the Game at a Glance
- New Shield “Holy” available from today (July 19th), going underground
- Underground DLC free from July 19th to July 26th
- Global Event likely to appear on July 31st
- “Running in Place” bug is set to be fixed, patch does not have a date yet
- Secret Striker and Showstopper are a problem, balance update very likely
- Cooperation with Dark Horse Comics. Comics, novel, and 192-page book about the lore of The Division in the works, all aimed for March 2019
What do you think of the news? Let us know in the comments.
