I had the opportunity to test the closed beta of Resurgence early and experience the game's content firsthand. And I must say that Ubisoft has really gone to great lengths to bring the full story and gameplay of The Division to mobile devices.

A compelling story in a post-apocalyptic setting



The story of The Division Resurgence is set in the franchise's post-apocalyptic universe, where a lethal virus known as "green poison" was spread during Black Friday, causing a societal collapse, and leading New York to chaos.

As highly trained Division undercover agents, our mission is to investigate and try to restore order amidst the chaos that has plagued the city. Facing dangers and challenges, they must fight hostile factions, interact with other survivors, and uncover hidden secrets.

The plot of The Division Resurgence features a compelling narrative and a unique view of events, providing players with an immersive experience in the universe of The Division franchise. Even for players of the franchise, several missions and locations in the setting are well known.



Gameplay

The game follows the third-person camera shooter style and features intense combat, with gunfire and explosions all around. The gameplay is similar to the other games in the series, with an emphasis on loot'n'shoot and firearms-based combat. As you progress, you can collect and upgrade equipment and weapons to increase your combat power.

Character customization is also an important part of the game. Although the customization system is limited, you can choose your specialization, which includes a set of three unique skills. These skills provide strategic options during combat, allowing you to adapt to your play style.

The game's controls are touch-screen based, with well-placed command buttons for smooth gameplay. However, the interface can seem a bit polluted due to the amount of information displayed simultaneously. Fortunately, it is possible to connect a controller via Bluetooth for a more pleasant gaming experience.



In The Division Resurgence, players will have access to four pre-prepared specialization builds right after character customization. These builds offer specific skill sets and equipment for different play styles. Here are the four builds mentioned:

Demolitionist (Grenadier Wrecker): This build is focused on dealing with explosive damage. Players will have access to abilities such as powerful grenades, fire support turrets, and guided mines, which can be used strategically to defeat enemies.

Bulwark: This build is geared toward close-range combat and endurance. Players will have access to a powerful shotgun, a shield to protect themselves from enemy attacks, and an ability called Shockwave Spike, a skill I loved, which is like a ground punch that deals area damage and can knock out nearby enemies.

Vanguard: This build focuses on group protection and tactical support. Players will have access to abilities such as the pulse, which can detect enemies and their weaknesses, and the shield to protect themselves and their teammates. In addition, they will have access to Tactical Link, a skill that increases the effectiveness of the entire group in combat.

Tec Operator: One of the specializations available in The Division Resurgence that is very similar to the old Strategist. This class offers a tactical approach with the use of drones to aid in missions and combat. By choosing the Tec Operator specialization, players will have access to different types of drones with specific functions, providing strategic advantages throughout the game.

New agents will have a multitude of activities to participate in, and here are some of the regular activities you can participate in in the open world:



Explore the Manhattan streets

Navigating the dark streets of New York City is an integral part of your mission! As you explore the open world you will encounter hostile patrol groups, engage in combat with enemy factions attempting to overrun key locations, respond to requests to restore power or access to water and aid civilians held hostage.

Opportunities to discover new and improved equipment, ammunition, and vital resources are plentiful, which will be useful for research and creation. Keep an eye out for important individuals with new and challenging missions for you. Or perhaps you simply want to enjoy discovering the beautiful locations and sights that the Big Apple has to offer!

Supply Recovery

Your colony is growing daily, but many essential items cannot be produced domestically. We need your help, Agent, to venture out into the hostile streets of New York and recover a crate of vital supplies to keep our people safe... before it falls into the wrong hands! Supply recovery missions are dangerous and will keep you on high alert. You'll know where to go and what to find, but you'll have no idea what awaits you, guarding this precious (and often life-saving) loot. Here at SHD, we take care of our own, which means we'll make sure those dangerous missions are worth it.

Hostage rescue

We are receiving distress calls and messages from civilians trying to contact us. They have been taken hostage by hostile groups, and it is our duty to bring them back safe and sound! During hostage rescue missions, you will need to track down the enemy group, engage in combat if necessary, and free the hostages so that they can join the allies.



Weapons Business Disruptions

Heavily armed hostile factions are a big problem. So why not cut off the arms supply at the source? There are numerous reports of arms deals taking place in the city center, with some factions selling illegal weapons to other hostile groups on the black market. With your help, we want to put an end to these negotiations. Go there and confront the hostile groups while the transaction is taking place. Eliminate anyone who stands in your way and make sure the cargo reaches us safely!

Outpost Resettlement

As you already know, the JTF (Joint Task Force) was not able to fully secure the city. Many outposts and fortresses, originally intended to restore peace, have been destroyed by hostile groups and are currently under enemy control. We must clean up these sites, restore power, and ensure that our people can reclaim these vital areas. But beware: these areas will not be retaken without a fight, and we know how much our enemies want to maintain control. You are likely to encounter waves of enemies before we can send more people to protect the area.

In the game, you will have the opportunity to collect and upgrade various equipment and weapons. This means that you will be able to loot items from your defeated enemies, create new equipment, modify existing equipment, and upgrade it to increase your combat power. In addition, the game allows you to customize your character with a vast arsenal of possibilities. You can choose from different weapons, equipment, and accessories to create a set that suits your play style and preferences.

As you progress through the game, you can level up and upgrade your skills. This will unlock exclusive new weapons and unique gadgets, giving you more strategic options for taking on your enemies. Additionally, you will have the ability to switch between specializations and change roles at any time, allowing you to experiment with different skills and find the best strategy for each situation, especially when playing with your friends.

These mechanics of collecting, upgrading, and customizing equipment, along with skill progression and the ability to experiment with different specializations, add a layer of depth and customization to the game, allowing you to create a unique character and explore a variety of strategies to face increasing challenges.



Graphics

Visually, Resurgence impresses with its well-done graphics and cutscenes that resemble the series' games on consoles and PC. The scenery is richly detailed, and the characters look good, providing a satisfying visual experience for a mobile game.

Developed on Unreal Engine 4, The Division Resurgence surprises with its high-quality graphics. The detailed backgrounds and well-rendered characters approach the quality of the series' console and PC games. The optimization of the graphics for mobile devices is remarkable, providing an immersive and flawless visual experience.

In addition to the campaign, the closed beta also included multiplayer modes such as Domination and Dark Zone. These modes offer fast and frenetic experiences, where you can compete against other players or face PvE and PvP challenges in specific areas.

Despite the considerable size of the game (10 GB), the overall performance was balanced, although there may be longer loading times on less powerful devices. During gameplay, no significant crashes or performance drops were observed.

The Division Resurgence shows the potential of FPS-style mobile gaming by offering a complete experience of the franchise in a portable format. With fun gameplay, impressive graphics, and engaging multiplayer modes, the game promises to please both fans of the series and mobile gamers in general. We look forward to seeing what the final version of Resurgence has in store for us.



Realistic Audio and Sound

The soundscape of The Division Resurgence contributes to the immersion in the game. Based on the same soundscape as the original game including its soundtracks and specific gun and shooting sounds, they don't let the game go wrong in this regard.

The realistic sound effects such as gunfire, explosions, and character dialogues add a layer of authenticity to the gaming experience. The immersive soundtrack intensifies the atmosphere of the post-apocalyptic world, perfectly complementing the visual elements.

The game was pre-tested on the Android, Samsung Galaxy Fold 4. We thank Ubisoft for making the game available for testing.