The Division – Incursion DLC expands the end game experience on April 12th

Even though we found some aspects of Tom Clancy’s The Division (our review here) to be lacking to an extent, we’re still expecting to stick with it for the long haul. Thankfully, Ubisoft Massive has already provided a reason to do so… details of what their first free DLC will include when it ships out on April 12th. And hey, if that date sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the same day that Bungie is pushing out their big Destiny April Update. Coincidence? Hmm…

Anyway, the upcoming Incursions expansion for the Division is the first of two such content and feature packs scheduled to be released for the game so far. What’s so great about it? Well, it adds much needed variety to the end game experience. Players can team up and take on challenging new Incursion activities which will yield some epic loot such as weapons and gear sets. Ubisoft is also rolling out a “gear score” system which can take players well beyond the level 30 character cap. Another nice new feature is the ability to trade loot with other players (within your own group) in the Dark Zone. Also revealed was the addition of enemy drones and an armored personnel carrier, optional assignments, and the ability to finally follow along with other teammates when you’re waiting to be revived.

If you missed the livestream, most of this is covered on Ubi’s blog, or you can check out the details below.

The first of two free expansions for The Division, titled Incursions, has been confirmed for arrival on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC on April 12. Revealed in depth during today?s community livestream, Incursions adds a new endgame activity specifically designed for squad play, and rewards teams that come out victorious with high-level loot. Incursions also brings a loot-trading feature, letting you swap items with your squadmates.

The first Incursion, titled Falcon Lost, is set in a completely new, underground water-treatment facility that?s been turned into a stronghold for the Last Man Battalion. The Incursions update also includes the following changes and additions:

• New gear is a vital centerpiece of Incursions, which introduces four rare gear sets: Sentry?s Call, Striker?s Battle Gear, Path of the Nomad, and Technician?s Authority. Each set is meant to bolster a specific play style; Sentry?s Call promotes consistent precision, Striker?s Battle Gear is for assault-focused players, and so on. Finding and equipping four pieces from a single set unlocks a new, never-before-seen talent for your Agent, which the developers aren?t revealing yet.
• Agent level is still capped at 30, but your gear score can boost your abilities beyond your level, and are touted as a new way of leveling up for top-level players.
• Loot trading is now possible; if you get good loot, you can now drop it on the ground and make it available to other players in your group. In the Dark Zone, you can only drop loot inside the Dark Zone gate.
• Assignments are new tasks ? killing 10 Cleaners, for example ? that are meant as brief, optional side goals that update daily and can earn you Phoenix Credits, Division tech, and other rewards.
• Supply drops will periodically fall from the sky in the Dark Zone, giving you and other groups something to battle over. They?re also protected by tough enemies, but the loot doesn?t need to be extracted, as it?s uncontaminated, and can?t be stolen once acquired.
• When your Agent dies, you can now camera-follow your teammates, seeing what they see and offering tactical support.
• Falcon Lost has two difficulties: Hard mode, which is recommended for players whose gear score is equivalent to level 31; and challenge mode, which is even tougher. Also, there aren?t any checkpoints in Falcon Lost; if your team goes down, you?ll have to restart from the beginning. Additionally, you can replay Falcon Lost and other upcoming Incursions as many times as you want and still be rewarded with new loot.
• Enemies can now employ drones, aerial enemies that will be tricky to hit. You?ll also be pitted against an armored personnel carrier, which acts as a boss and is impervious to bullets, forcing you to find another way to deal with it.

Incursions will later be followed by another free update, Conflict, which adds a special incursion into New York?s Columbus Circle, as well as new Dark Zone features. Additionally, three paid DLC expansions are planned throughout the year ? Underground, Survival, and Last Stand ? which introduce new areas and threats to The Division?s open-world New York. Xbox One players will have 30-day exclusive early access to Underground and Survival, although Incursions, Conflict, and Last Stand will debut on all platforms simultaneously.