Summary
Following the recent cancelation of Red Storm’sTom Clancy’s The Division Heartland, new details have emerged regarding the development of the game and its origins. May 15 was a bittersweet day for many Ubisoft fans, as the company finally revealedAssassin’s Creed Shadows, the next mainline title of the popular franchise, taking players to Feudal Japan during the time of Samurai and Shinobi. However, buried alongside the new game reveal was the confirmation thatThe Division Heartlandhad also been canceled.
The news came as a shock to many as there seemed to be plenty of evidence that the game was nearing a launch date.The Division Heartlandhad made it into player hands through closed technical tests, and it was even rated in Taiwan, leading most to believe an announcement was coming soon. Instead,Ubisoft canceled the often delayedThe Division Heartland, choosing to redistribute resources to other projects likexDefiant, the mobile spinoffThe Division Resurgence, andRainbow Six Siege.
Taking to social media, Ryan Smith, the current Lead Level Designer onOverwatch 2, posted about their experiences originally working at Ubisoft and onThe Division Heartland. Smith revealed that the game was originally intended to be a “low risk"battle royale mode forThe Division 2, something which had been rumored constantly, but never fully confirmed. While the development team had a clear plan for the mode, eventually, Red Storm and Ubisoft took things in a different direction, drastically changing it according to Smith. Even though Smith is no longer at Ubisoft, they admitted that they’re still sad the experience won’t see the light of day.
The Division Heartland Went Through Major Changes During Development
SMith’s admission thatThe Division Heartlandbecame something else entirely during its development aligns with recent reports from industry insiders like Tom Henderson. Last month, Henderson revealed that, at the time, the game was not only still in development, butHeartlandhad undergone significant changessince Ubisoft last revealed it. Details were scarce at the time and based on what fans now know, it seems the overhaul wasn’t enough to save it from being cancelled.
Unfortunately, Heartland’s cancelation leaves a massive hole in the franchise in the near term. Even withThe Division 2continuing to receive updates, fans haveThe Division Resurgence, a free to play mobile shooter expected to launch sometime this year. However, with The Division 2 still being a popular experience, Ubisoft revealed thatThe Division 3is in active development with Julian Gerighty returning to serve as executive producer. However, there has been little to no details since its confirmation back in September 2023 and with Massive Entertainment currently approaching the development finish line withStar Wars Outlaws, it could be some time beforeThe Division 3is revealed in full.
Tom Clancy’s The Division Heartland
Ubisoft’s Tom Clancy’s The Division Heartland is a free-to-play third-person shooter that pits players against each other along with an environmental threat. Set in Silver Creek, Heartland features a day/night cycle, survival mechanics, and faction-based warfare.
