The Division 2 1.03 update patch notes have now been shared by developer Massive Entertainment. The new The Division update goes live today, March 14, with an expected downtime maintenance period lasting up to 12:30 PM CET/7:30 AM EST/4:30 AM PST. If all goes as planned, that is when The Division 2 will be back online. Up until that point, the MIKE-01 error will continue to show if any attempt to connect to the servers is made. The new patch is being rolled out across PC, PS4, and Xbox One. New changes impact weapons, missions, PC-specific issues, and more.
The Division 2 1.03 update patch notes highlights
A new The Division 2 1.03 update has been rolled out ahead of the March 15 launch date. This makes some last-minute changes to the game before it is finally released amongst gamers who didn’t opt for the early access editions of the game.
The Division 2 1.03 update makes some changes to weapons, with an unfinished work-in-progress gun being removed. Crossbows have been given a buff, dealing more explosive damage to multiple objects. Exotic weapons that are equipped with silencers will now emit the correct sound. Finally, NPCs that are in combat will now react to grenades in a realistic way.
The Beekeeper Jeff side mission, which players had been having issues with, has now seen a fix. This is in addition to changes made to Castle, which could previously be unlocked prematurely. What’s more, a loot exploit that involved farming a boss has now been fixed.
Following the new update, PC players should hopefully experience fewer issues when interacting with each other. FreeSync 2 HDR has also been tweaked to be properly selectable.
The Division 2 1.03 update patch notes list
Weapons
- We removed a work in progress weapon that was not properly named and balanced.
- Crossbows now deal explosive damage to multiple objects as intended
- Exotic weapons equipped with silencers will now produce the sound they’re intended to make.
- NPCs engaged in combat will now react to grenades as intended.
Missions
- The ropes will now deploy properly to allow for extraction at the end of the Beekeeper Jeff side mission.
- Players should no longer be able to unlock Castle prematurely. This issue would block progression in some instances.
- Fixed a loot exploit that involved repeatedly killing bosses in some Invaded missions.
- In Jefferson Plaza, the NPC scene can no longer be interrupted during a boss fight.
PC specific
- PC players playing together while connected to the same network were meeting a number of issues when interacting with each other. This has now been fixed.
- On PC, FreeSync 2 HDR can now properly be selected in game regardless of your PC’s configuration.
Other
- Stopped “SHD CPU V.2” and “Cyclone Magazine” skill mods from dropping as loot. Player’s who already have the items can use them once they unlock the corresponding specialization perk.
- Players will no longer get stuck on black screens after watching introduction cinematics.
- We have updated XP rewards for all end game activities, so that they will scale to the player’s level, instead of being flat values.
- Several corrupted audio issues have been fixed.
Tom Clancy Franchise Tour
-
The Division 2 and the best and worst Tom Clancy franchises
Due to a set of circumstances only possible in our industry, the Tom Clancy name has been all over gaming. It's the first name in tactical shooters and one of Ubisoft's most valuable franchises. However, it's not all sunshine and roses. Here is the history of The Clance in video game form. -
The Hunt for Red October
In the late '80s, one of the prominent genres on home PCs were tense strategy games. Since graphics hadn't evolved as of yet, games, where you played in the theater of the mind, dominated the landscape. What better subject than the tense thrillers of Tom Clancy for these types of experiences? -
The Sum of All Fears
In 1996, Tom Clancy co-founded Red Storm Entertainment after seeing these early successes. Ubisoft subsequently purchased the studio in 2000 after establishing a working relationship with them. Ubisoft then purchased the Tom Clancy name outright for use in video games in 2006. By then, games tying into Clancy's movie successes just weren't enough. -
Rainbow Six
Originally based on one of Clancy's novels, the Rainbow Six series encompasses 17 distinct releases across multiple platforms. Each game features tactical first-person shooting and aspires to be a military simulation. This style peaked with a pair of Vegas titles released on Xbox 360. -
Rainbow Six Siege
After spending several years developing a follow-up to Vegas entittled Patriots, Ubisoft went a different way. Rainbow Six Siege is a multiplayer-focused endeavor with Overwatch-style heroes as its operatives. Although it started off on the wrong foot, constant improvements have made it one of the most popular shooters going. -
Ghost Recon
The second set of Clancy tactical shooters, Ghost Recon differentiates itself with its third-person gameplay and its large outdoor environments. There have been fourteen Ghost Recon releases, ranging from the modern day to the near future. Most recently, Ghost Recon took a turn into the open world with Wildlands. -
Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
A subsection of Ghost Recon, "GRAW" was one of the standout games around the Xbox 360 launch. Combining the tactics the series is known for with then-futuristic technology made for a great combination. Ubisoft would revisit the idea with a direct sequel and Future Soldier in 2012. -
Splinter Cell
Splinter Cell's Sam Fisher might have been in the running as an Xbox mascot back in the good old days. A stealth action series to rival Metal Gear, Sam's adventures are classics, particularly the original trilogy. The latest in the series was Blacklist in 2013, although there have been hints that Sam might drop in again any day now. -
EndWar
Taking Tom Clancy back to full on tactics, 2008's EndWar promoted itself on its voice-operated commands. You could control the entire game with a headset, although some reviewers found that to be difficult to achieve. A sequel started development but never saw the light of day. There was a free-to-play follow-up planned but it was canceled. -
H.A.W.X.
An arcade flying game taking place in the timeline of Advanced Warfighter, H.A.W.X. is a weird fit in the Tom Clancy timeline. Two games were released in 2009 and 2010, both receiving mixed to positive reviews. A seeming stopgap in the industry while Ace Combat slumbered, this is one name we probably won't be seeing again. -
The Division
The latest Tom Clancy joint, The Division takes the gameplay structure of Destiny and brings it down to Earth. Literally. This loot shooter doesn't quite have the tactical gameplay of past titles bearing Mr. Clancy's name, but it does have the squad controls and the storyline that attempts to match his most engaging works of fiction. Well, it doesn't have great storytelling techniques but at least it has the look and feel of a Clancy game.
