Ubisoft recently unveiled the first major expansion for The Division 2, Warlords of New York, and it finally launches this week. After nearly a year of post-launch content set in Washington D.C., the sequel will head back to where the series began, putting you on the hunt for the returning antagonist Aaron Keener while making your way through the unexplored region of Lower Manhattan from the first game. We spent some hands-on time with the expansion before its reveal and saw the number of changes in store for The Division 2's economy and power-grind. However, one of the most surprising details about the new expansion is that new players will be able to jump in right from the beginning. [Update: And you can do so right now, as the Warlords of New York expansion is available a day early.]
Releasing as a standalone expansion for $30, which will mark the beginning of The Division 2's Year 2 content, you'll be able to dive right into the new storyline and head to Lower Manhattan immediately. With the new $40 standard edition of the game, which includes the base game and the expansion, new players can boost their starting character to level 30 and head straight for the new content. From there, you can take on missions throughout Lower Manhattan, where you'll face off against Keener's rogue agents and the returning factions like the Cleaners and the Rikers.
According to Ubisoft, this approach was to let players jump straight into the new content without having to catch up to other players. During our hands-on, we got to explore the new-New York City in The Division 2, which has a different vibe when compared to the snowy urban expanse from the original game. With various missions set around the different regions of Lower Manhattan, including Battery Park, Twin Bridges, Civic Center, and the Financial District, you'll be able to take on the various targets and objects in the order you wish.
In addition to the new plot and world space to explore, the expansion also brings with it an increased level cap and a revamped gear system, which streamlines the UI to convey character growth and differences in player archetypes better. The developers stated that this new expansion would be a convenient way for newcomers to try out The Division 2, which presented the opportunity to re-evaluate how they showed the familiar power grind in the game.
In GameSpot's review of The Division 2, senior editor and producer Edmond Tran awarded the game a 9/10 and stated: "The Division 2 as a game are compelling enough to keep you captivated for dozens more. The range of enemy types continues to keep combat encounters challenging, the equipment I earn and pick up continues to feel different, valuable, and asks me to consider new ways of play. The ravaged environments continue to intrigue, and sometimes they're so stunning I find myself needing to take screenshots before I move on. It might not have much to say, but The Division 2 is a perpetual cycle of tension, relief, and reward that's difficult to stay away from."