Tom Clancy’s The Division Release Date 2016 And Alpha Test Leak; Pre-Order for Beta Access for PC, PS4, and Xbox One

Dec 23, 2015 06:05 PM EST

One of the most highly anticipated games of the year is Tom Clancy's The Division from Ubisoft.  Sadly, since the game has been delayed many times, it will be one of the most highly anticipated games of 2016.  At least, it has a release date, and it is currently undergoing alpha testing.  There was a leak of the gameplay, and it has given many an insight as to what the game will be about. 

According to CNET, Tom Clancy's The Division is currently in its alpha testing period, and quite a bit of gameplay footage was leaked online thanks to a NeoGAF thread.  These videos of the gameplay have been deleted, as The Division's Xbox One alpha required players to sign a nondisclosure agreement saying that they would not post videos online or share their experiences publically. 

The Latin Post states that Ubisoft has a new trailer for Tom Clancy's The Division, and it is a pretty creepy one of a child singing "Silent Night" with some new lyrics.  You can watch it below. 

According to IGN, Tom Clancy's The Division takes place in New York three weeks after a lethal virus is released on Black Friday (hence the Christmas carol the young boy is singing in the new trailer).  After society falls, the President activates The Division, a top-secret unit of self-supporting tactical agents.  Division agents are trained to operate independently of command, and players will delve into the world of fallen New York City, which has been overrun by clans willing to do anything to survive.  The gameplay involves exploring through New York through very familiar landmarks, and there will be a lot of third-party shooting. 

A recent interview with Forbes with Ubisoft's Lead Environmental Artist Sebastian Lindoff and Technical Art Director Chad Chatterton shared about how this game will be different than other fighting games already on the market.   For example, players can choose when to play any of the missions, night or day, or with clear weather or during a snow blizzard.  There will also be some fog settings, but this will impact how the player will approach a mission. 

This game would be the first time that Tom Clancy has tackled anything in the post-apocalyptic genre, which is quite common in most video games and other science fiction franchises.  Tom Clancy, an author who passed away on October 1, 2013, left behind a legacy of novels that are most famous for introducing the now iconic character of Jack Ryan.  He also inspired the gaming series Rainbow Six, and the most recent addition Rainbow Six Siege was just released. 

Tom Clancy's The Division will launch on March 8, 2016 for the PC, PlayStation 4, and the Xbox One.  If the game is pre-ordered, then the user will get access to the beta that is slated to begin on all three platforms in 2016.