The Division's New Release is Going Up Against Zelda
Tom Clancy's The Division 2 heads to Central Park for a new horror-tinged expansion
The Division 2 is about to send players to one of New York City's most recognizable locations, and it's doing so at almost exactly the same time that Nintendo is sending players back to Hyrule.
On Thursday, Ubisoft announced that The Division 2: Echoes of Central Park will launch on Nov. 3, just two days before The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 on Nov. 5. So while Link is preparing to save Hyrule once again, Division agents will be heading into a very different kind of legendary forest.
Ubisoft showed off the DLC in a new gameplay reveal today as part of its Echoes of Central Park showcase, giving us our first substantial look at the expansion following its announcement at Gamescom.
The timing could be a risky move for Ubisoft, putting Echoes of Central Park just two days ahead of an all-time classic getting a major remake — though the two games could be targeting audiences different enough that both have room to succeed.
What is Echoes of Central Park about?
Echoes of Central Park will finally make Central Park an explorable location in The Division series. The park was used as a mass burial ground during the original outbreak, and years later, it has become an overgrown and ominous place surrounded by rumors about what might be lurking inside.
The DLC begins when the Division intercepts a distress signal coming from deep within the park. Agents are sent to investigate, only to find themselves dealing with a mysterious new threat, disappearing people, brutal deaths, and increasingly bizarre stories about what lives in the woods. Ubisoft is leaning into horror more heavily than previous Division expansions, framing the story around paranoia and the way rumors can become reality.
The expansion also adds the Upper West Side, with the new map stretching from Lincoln Square to the Dakota District. Players can tackle the campaign solo or in co-op, and three new companions — Brayleigh Callahan, Elwood Franklin, and Morse Feeney — can fight alongside them.
There's also a new endgame system that initially puts players in the role of hunted prey, without their usual technology and advantages. As they learn more about Central Park and acquire new gear, the balance shifts and they can eventually become the hunters themselves.
Six new skill variants, a new gear set, and the new Exotic weapon, The Ratel, are also coming with the DLC.
The Division 2: Echoes of Central Park arrives on Nov. 3 on PlayStation 4, Windows PC, and Xbox One.