Tom Clancy’s The Division is one of the powerhouses in Ubisoft’s roster this year. While a specific release date for the game has not been set yet, the Division was announced to release sometime towards the end of 2014. Rumors have it that this might not be an achievable goal, and given the sheer size and complexity of the project, it’s not entirely surprising.
According to an anonymous inside source (thanks go to Gamereactor), it seems that only the game engine is completely built, and work on the actual gameplay elements has only just begun. “The game engine works well, it’s not done but works well. The actual game development has barely started, however.”
Here’s a look at the Snowdrop Engine and what it’s capable of:
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“The fact that Ubisoft has gone public with a 2014 release date feels laughable to be perfectly honest, we will never be able to release The Division this year. It’s a large project, and we have very far to go.” the source also stated.
Now, the reasons to be worried about a delay aren’t entirely unjustified. The fact is, Ubisoft does have a proven track record of delaying games. Just in recent years, projects like Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Watch Dogs, Rayman Legends or The Crew have all seen delays. Taking their time to built a quality triple A game isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I feel that they might have bitten off more than they could chew by building up hype too early. Microsoft itself included The Division in its Xbox One content video forecast for 2014.
Of course, anonymous sources may or may not be a factor worth considering, and until Ubisoft comments on the issue officially, we won’t know anything for sure. But, considering that we’re talking about an MMO world that needs to be filled with content to keep players interested for years to come, these rumors might not be far-fetched at all. We’ve yet to see any indication that the gameplay aspects are anywhere near being completed. If you’re waiting anxiously for The Division, you’d best prepare yourself for a 2015 release.