In The Division, the PTS, the public test servers for Update 1.7, are also coming to PS4 and Xbox One. Are you in?
The first PTS phase for The Division took place in autumn 2016. The major Update 1.4 was to be thoroughly tested on these servers so that errors and issues could be resolved early.
However, there was already criticism back then about the public test servers: These were exclusively available for PC agents. Console players, who form a large part of the community, could only watch while PC players got to play the new content.
After further PTS phases, all of which were PC-exclusive, there is now a new development: For Update 1.7, PTS will be held on all platforms. Massive announced months ago that they were working on a way to bring the PTS to consoles as well. A few days ago, confirmation came: Yes, PTS for Update 1.7 are confirmed for PS4 and Xbox One.
PTS on all platforms – A good sign for 1.7?
There is still no specific date for the PTS phase. Developers are expected to release concrete information on this in the coming days or weeks.
Opinions in the community about the PTS on PS4 and Xbox One are divided:
- Some are glad that Massive is fulfilling this promise and can meet a request from the player base.
- However, skepticism is also spreading: The PTS have never been able to prevent numerous new problems from arising with an update release. PTS on consoles would not change this, many doubt.
About a month ago, we reported that the player base is dissatisfied with the test servers. “With all the bugs – what were the PTS even good for?” the agents asked.
In itself, the PTS is a sensible thing. However, they need to become more effective for The Division:
- Massive must provide concrete instructions and lead the testing phase. Because the PTS should focus more on testing and less on “Yay, I can play the content early.”
- The number of players on the PTS must increase. For Update 1.7, Massive is heading in the right direction here. Because the console versions have their own problems and needs. To discover all the bugs, agents on PS4 and Xbox One need to be integrated into the testing phase.
For Update 1.7, this is a good sign: More players who can uncover and report problems. More data that developers can collect. Does this lead to a better Update 1.7?
It remains to be seen how the PTS on consoles will ultimately run. So far, Massive justified the PC exclusivity of the PTS by stating that they can roll out updates faster on PC and thus respond more quickly to community feedback. On PS4 and Xbox One, each update must first go through a certification process.
How “effective” the PTS on consoles will be remains to be seen in the future. Many agents express skepticism in the forums, recalling the rocky past and doubting that the test servers on PS4 and Xbox One can contribute to a “better” Update 1.7.
What do you think about it? Are you on the PTS on consoles and helping to uncover the issues?
Interesting: The Division 1.7: New progression statistics are coming – and are visible to everyone
