Ubisoft talks weather effects and day/night cycles for The Division
Even though it was announced all the way back at E3 2013, there is still more to know and get excited about when it comes to Ubisoft’s shared world third-person shooter, The Division. Offering a bit more about some of the finer systems at work in The Division, Ubisoft released a developer diary delving into everything from weather to lighting, and how it is going to affect the way we play.The Division will have everything from sunny and bright days, to cold, dark and stormy ones. Speaking about what players can expect, Senior Game Designer Fredrik Thylander explained, “When in a full storm, visibility is hindered, both for NPCs and the agent. Our worst storm conditions that can hit will affect aim assist and detection ranges for both players and NPCs.” But more than that, the world itself will change as wildlife and civilians will act differently according to the weather.
Even though it was announced all the way back at E3 2013, there is still more to know and get excited about when it comes to Ubisoft’s shared world third-person shooter, The Division. Offering a bit more about some of the finer systems at work in The Division, Ubisoft released a developer diary delving into everything from weather to lighting, and how it is going to affect the way we play.
The Division will have everything from sunny and bright days, to cold, dark and stormy ones. Speaking about what players can expect, Senior Game Designer Fredrik Thylander explained, “When in a full storm, visibility is hindered, both for NPCs and the agent. Our worst storm conditions that can hit will affect aim assist and detection ranges for both players and NPCs.” But more than that, the world itself will change as wildlife and civilians will act differently according to the weather.
The same can be said of the day/night cycle. “A mission during the day has a totally different mood than a mission during the night” Lead Concept Artist Tom Garden stated.
Meanwhile, the lighting indoors gives an entirely different mood than that outdoors. Designed to be intense and make the player feel enclosed, the shadows and dim lights do a lot for creating an interesting atmosphere. Technical Art Director Sebastian Lindoff, speaking of the seamless transition between outdoors and indoors, said, “If there is one situation that really makes the player feel the change of time and weather, it’s spending time indoors for a while, and stepping out to realize it might be night and there’s a snowy blizzard.”
The Division is scheduled to release March 8th, 2016 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Are you excited to explore a realistic, post-apocalyptic New York? Let us know in the comments.