After the moderate success of Star Wars: Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Ubisoft is struggling with declining sales. Why The Division 3 will not be the new flagship:
The Division 3 has been in development for several months now, but Ubisoft’s shooter might never see the light of day.
After the sequel’s development was completely halted in 2020, partly due to the pandemic, Ubisoft finally responded to the discontent of The Division’s loyal community by announcing the next installment in 2023.
But why has a franchise that was celebrated until 2018 been so neglected by Ubisoft?
Management Missteps and Strategic Failures
The neglect of The Division can largely be attributed to strategic mismanagement at Ubisoft.
Post-pandemic, Ubisoft shifted its focus toward developing games based on Hollywood IPs, diverting resources to projects like Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Star Wars: Outlaws, aiming for mass appeal through blockbuster franchises.
Would you be ok with Chicago being the setting for the next installment of the Division 3? #TheDivision3 pic.twitter.com/3QL6PYhkBP
— NothingButSkillz (@NothinButSkillz) December 29, 2024
Yet the results fell short. Neither Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora nor Star Wars: Outlaws lived up to expectations, earning lukewarm reviews. Many players criticized their lack of originality and depth.
This Hollywood-centric strategy came at a cost: one of Ubisoft’s most successful franchises, The Division, was put on hold.
The community, known for pouring countless hours into perfecting builds and exploring the unique PvE tactical shooter, felt abandoned.
The Decline of a Once-Promising Franchise
From 2016 to 2018, The Division shone as a rising star in the gaming industry.
Plans were in place for expansions, spin-offs, and even a movie adaptation featuring Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Chastain.
But as Ubisoft prioritized other projects, the Free-to-Play offshoot The Division: Heartlands was scrapped, and the mobile spin-off The Division: Resurgence was pushed to the sidelines.
The movie, once a highly anticipated project, was shelved after the COVID-19 pandemic; The Division’s fictional virus outbreak suddenly felt too uncomfortably real.
The result? A franchise bursting with potential now seems frozen in time.
Hope for The Division 3
Although Ubisoft has hinted at The Division 3, the lack of substantial updates remains a concern.
A dedicated page on Massive Entertainment’s website and job postings for new developers suggest that something is in the works.
However, the actual progress is uncertain, with no trailers, announcements, or promotional content for the game so far.
Who needs E3? Here's Ubisoft announcing The Division 3 via press release, old-school style pic.twitter.com/hFIB27REmJ
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) September 21, 2023
Ubisoft’s ongoing financial troubles, exacerbated by poor sales and lukewarm reception to their latest titles, further cloud the game’s future.
Fans hope Ubisoft will recognize the unique value of The Division and allocate the resources needed to deliver a worthy successor.
Whether The Division 3 will ever launch remains uncertain, but the community’s love for the franchise endures.
Are The Division games a milestone in shooter history or easily forgettable? Share your thoughts in the comments!