Ubisoft is rolling out an ambitious update across The Division 2’s ecosystem. It’s the Y8S3.3 update, and it ushers in the arrival of Echoes of Central Park, which drops today. This super-sized update comes almost seven years after the game hit the market, and it introduces a wealth of upgrades, including crossplay, clan changes, new missions, and a limited-time event.
That limited-time event is interesting for one major reason, and that’s that it directly clashes with the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6.It’s called the Shepherd Event Project, and it runs from November 17 to November 26, inviting players to answer Calls for Backup and to help others work through a multi-step chain to earn exclusive rewards.
Ubisoft Fights Rockstar Once Again
In 2013, Ubisoft rolled out an ambitious marketing campaign for Watch_Dogs, an open-world action title that was built to rival the likes of Grand Theft Auto. The campaign suggested that GTA fans would have spent enough time exploring Grand Theft Auto 5, which had been released two months earlier, and that they should cut ties and head to Watch_Dogs.
Watch_Dogs would later be delayed by several months, pushing it into 2014.
While it hasn’t been framed like that this time around, there’s no missing the coinciding dates of the new project in The Division 2.
The Shepherd Event Project was outlined in a new blog post from Ubisoft:
From November 17 to November 26, answer Calls for Backup and help fellow Agents to earn rewards through a six-project chain.
Each project asks you to gain one Shepherd Rank. The full chain is available from day one, so you can work through it at your own pace before the event ends.
The increase from 1 to 3 automatic endorsements introduced during the previous Shepherd Event remains in place, helping you climb the ranks.
As you complete the chain, you’ll earn:
- Every project: 10 Exotic Components and 700,000 XP.
- Projects 1 to 5: One Reconstructed Cache per project.
- The final project: Malinois, a Named Mk16.
From today, November 3rd, a stack of changes will hit the platform. Crossplay changes are being introduced, and they’ll bleed into the game before being fully implemented on November 17, ready for the event to land, encouraging players from far and wide to collaborate.
Clan limits are growing from 50 to 100 with this new update, and leadership changes and structural amendments are also landing. Ubisoft has also updated the Friend Referral Program, again in a bid to entice more players into The Division 2’s ecosystem.
Today, a new Master Climax mission is opening up, which offers unique rewards in exchange for players completing a drastically difficult challenge, and several improvements and fixes have been made to the game’s overarching combat mechanics.
Including new Combat Marks:
- Iron Wall: Mitigate heavy incoming damage and survive.
- Extended Reach: Secure eliminations with Rifles or Marksman Rifles.
- Tactical Aid: Heal or revive teammates, Pulse enemies, or provide helpful Skill and Talent effects.
- System Breaker: Destroy enemy Skills, apply Status Effects, or secure eliminations through Skills, explosions, or Status Effects.
Are you looking forward to The Division 2 and the Echoes of Central Park expansion, and are you going to play this instead of GTA 6? Let us know on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
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Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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