French gaming giant Ubisoft has shocked the gaming community by shelving The Division Heartland, a project it introduced with great fanfare three years ago.
The free-to-play survival-action game was unfortunately scrapped before its expected release date.
The company is now shifting its focus to “bigger opportunities” like XDefiant and Rainbow Six. Here are all the details…
What was The Division Heartland’s gameplay going to be like?
The Division Heartland, a canceled project by Ubisoft, was intended to be a free-to-play survival-action game set in the established The Division universe. Unlike the urban setting of the main series, it promised to take players to small-town America for a unique experience.
While concrete details on gameplay are scarce, rumors have suggested a PvEvP mode that blends survival against the environment with competition against other players. Base-building and crafting mechanics were also expected to be key features. The game was being developed at Red Storm Entertainment, an Ubisoft studio known for its work on the Tom Clancy series.
Originally announced in 2021 and scheduled for release between 2022 and 2023, The Division Heartland was ultimately canceled in 2023. Ubisoft did not disclose specific reasons for the cancellation, but it was likely due to the company’s strategic shift towards prioritizing larger franchises and live-service games, and potentially development challenges.
While The Division Heartland never came to fruition, it serves as a testament that Ubisoft continues to explore The Division universe and that they are willing to experiment with different genres and playstyles within the franchise.
Ubisoft streamlines its operations and develops its strategic vision
Ubisoft has been tightening its belt and reshaping its game portfolio in recent years. The cancellation of The Division Heartland marks another important step in this process. The company has cut costs by parting ways with more than 1,700 employees in 18 months, while setting a new course for the future by emphasizing open-world and live-service games.
Ambitious open-world titles such as Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Star Wars Outlaws demonstrate Ubisoft’s expertise and future potential in this genre. At the same time, popular live-service games such as XDefiant and Rainbow Six Siege are the cornerstone of Ubisoft’s strategy to generate long-term revenue through continuous player engagement.
A brief overview of future gaming experiences
Ubisoft is set to surprise players with new releases and updates at the Ubisoft Forward event on June 10th. The event promises to be a game changer, with new details about highly anticipated titles such as AC Shadows, Star Wars Outlaws, Rainbow Six Mobile, The Division Resurgence and XDefiant.
Featured image credit: Ubisoft
