The Division 2: Warlords Of New York -- Patch Notes, Release Date, Gear Changes, And More

The Division 2: Warlords of New York is the online looter-shooter's first major expansion, which is the largest batch of new content since the game's launch in March 2019. As the beginning of the game's Year 2 content, Warlords of New York will take players back to New York City, the setting of the original game, where you'll able to face off against some familiar foes while uncovering new events that will set the stage for what's to come in the year ahead for The Division 2.

Warlords of New York will mark the beginning of a new era for The Division 2, and with that comes changes to some of the more in-depth mechanics of the game, including loot, leveling, and actual player exploration. Before the reveal of this expansion, we went hands-on with the game to see just what was in store for returning players and newcomers alike. There was a lot to take in, so as a quick refresher, here's a breakdown of what's to come with Warlords of New York. [Update: Warlords of New York is out now, as is a major update--check out the patch notes. Otherwise, read on for an overview of what to expect from the update, how to play it, and how to buy it]

What's new in the expansion?

Warlords of New York will bring players back to Manhattan, eight months after the initial outbreak from the first game. Set in Lower Manhattan, an unexplored space from the first game, you'll take on a squad of rogue agents led by Aaron Keener, a returning villain from the original. In addition to fighting against old-faction like the Cleaners and the Rikers, you'll also take on Keener's squad of agents, all of whom use powerful Division tech, such as a decoy hologram and the Sticky Bombs. Over the course of the new campaign, you'll travel to various districts of Lower Manhattan, which includes Battery Park, Twin Bridges, Civic Center, and the Financial District. Along with additional side-activities, you can also find new missions to take on after finishing the main story, opening up new end-game content in New York and in D.C.

In addition to the new story and setting, Warlords of New York will usher in a revised gear and power growth systems. With a new level cap of 40, the gear system and its interface have been tweaked, keeping some of the more inconsequential stats under the hood. Loot has been changed to include more types of gear, including the elusive "god-rolls". Furthermore, the skill and leveling systems have also seen some changes. Along with an endgame leveling system, akin to Diablo III's Paragon mechanics, the skill and character archetypes have been overhauled to encourage more diversity with builds.

How do I play?

Warlords of New York is a standalone expansion priced at $30 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Later in March, Google Stadia will get the expansion as well. For current owners of the game, you can purchase the expansion when it launches on March 3. For newcomers, you can get the new $60 standard edition of the game (currently on sale for $40), which includes the base campaign and the Warlords expansion. If you want the complete Year 1 Division 2 experience, then the $80 ultimate edition (currently on sale for $53) features the base game, the upcoming expansion, and all year 1 DLC missions and bonus specializations.

How can new players get to the expansion?

For newcomers to The Division 2, you'll be able to dive right into the expansion as soon as you start up the game. Upon creating your character, you have the option to boost your new character up to level 30 and jump straight into the Warlords campaign with a preset inventory and skills. From there, you can jump straight into the new quests and environment. After completing the expansion's story, you can journey to D.C. and continue with the existing content.

Pre-order Warlords of New York

Pre-orders are live at the Microsoft Store for all three editions on Xbox One. You can also pre-order the PC version directly from Ubisoft. PS4 pre-orders aren't live just yet.

If you're thinking of jumping into The Division 2 when Warlords of New York releases, both the Microsoft Store and PlayStation Store are selling the base game for $3 right now.

Xbox One

• Warlords of New York (expansion only) -- $30
• The Division 2: Warlords of New York Edition -- $33 ($60)
• The Division 2: Warlords of New York Ultimate Edition -- $53.59 ($80)

PC

• Warlords of New York (expansion only) -- $30
• The Division 2: Warlords of New York Edition -- $33 ($60)
• The Division 2: Warlords of New York Ultimate Edition -- $53 ($80)

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