Concerns Regarding Progression Integrity and Recent End‑Game Changes
I’ve just sent a detailed email to Massive outlining some major concerns about how the new Prototype and Escalation systems are affecting progression and long‑term player investment. As an eight‑year veteran of The Division 2, and someone who works professionally in the games industry analysing player behaviour, monetisation, and live‑service systems, I felt it was important to highlight how the current implementation allows new players to bypass core mechanics like SHD, Expertise, and optimisation entirely. I also suggested practical fixes, such as minimum requirements for Escalation access, to protect progression integrity and improve matchmaking.
"I have been a dedicated player of The Division 2 since launch, and for the past eight years the game has been a consistent part of my gaming life. I’ve always appreciated the world, the atmosphere, and the core gameplay loop that makes The Division unique. However, over the years the game has also faced a number of recurring issues that have become increasingly difficult to overlook. These problems have affected stability, player experience, and long‑term engagement, and they continue to undermine what is otherwise a fantastic game. As someone who has supported the title since day one, it is disheartening to see these issues persist without clear communication or meaningful resolution.
My concerns relate specifically to the execution of the Prototype and Escalation additions. While I genuinely appreciate the intention behind these features, introducing veteran players to a fresh End Game mechanic and offering new ways to refine and push our builds, the actual rollout has fallen short of its potential. The concept itself is strong. After years of playing, a new layer of progression and optimisation is exactly the kind of long‑term engagement system the game needed. Unfortunately, the implementation has been inconsistent, at times confusing, and occasionally disruptive to the broader gameplay experience. Instead of feeling like a seamless evolution of the End Game, the current execution often feels fragmented, under‑explained, or misaligned with the pacing and expectations of long‑time players.
The core of the problem lies in the fact that new or relatively inexperienced players can now bypass several of the game’s foundational progression systems entirely. By simply being carried through an Escalation mission, they can walk away with gear that far surpasses what long‑time players have spent years earning. This shortcut effectively skips the levelling of the SHD watch, the long grind required to reach Expertise level 30, and even the optimisation system, mechanics that were originally designed to reward dedication, mastery, and time invested. For veteran players who have genuinely faced and overcome these challenges, watching others leapfrog the entire process in a single run is incredibly demoralising.
In my view, the ability to bypass these core mechanics has completely devalued the journey the player base has gone through. The sense of progression, achievement, and identity that came from building a character over years is undermined when the same results can now be obtained with minimal effort or understanding of the game’s systems.
The Escalation game mode urgently needs a meaningful gateway or eligibility requirement to prevent what can only be described as an exploit. At present, players with little to no investment in the game’s core progression systems can be carried through Escalation and walk away with top‑tier gear that completely bypasses the intended levelling curve. Introducing a minimum Expertise level, alongside a baseline SHD requirement such as SHD 1000, would immediately address this issue. Such a requirement would preserve the integrity of the progression systems that long‑term players have spent years engaging with. It would also help stabilise the matchmaking experience by reducing the influx of inexperienced players who are simply looking to acquire the best gear with minimal effort. This is not about gatekeeping; it is about ensuring that the systems designed to reward dedication and mastery retain their meaning.
If the game is going to continue down this path, then it is only fair that long‑time players receive substantial compensation for the time, effort, and enormous quantities of materials they have poured into mechanics that are now effectively obsolete. Years of grinding for Expertise, farming optimisation materials, and investing in build refinement have been rendered irrelevant overnight. For a player base that has supported the game for nearly a decade, this devaluation is not just disappointing, it is unacceptable.
I offer this perspective not only as a long‑time player, but as someone with substantial professional experience within the video games industry. For several years, I served as a Senior Business Analyst overseeing the entire European territory for a major video game retailer. My role required deep analysis of player behaviour, microtransaction trends, consumer engagement patterns, live‑service retention strategies, and the commercial impact of in‑game systems. I worked extensively with data‑driven forecasting, monetisation frameworks, player lifecycle modelling, and the assessment of how gameplay changes influence both customer satisfaction and long‑term revenue performance. This background gives me a clear, evidence‑based understanding of how progression systems, reward structures, and perceived fairness directly shape player trust, engagement, and the overall health and sustainability of a live‑service title.
In light of all this, I urge the team to take these concerns seriously and to reassess the direction in which these systems are evolving. The Division 2 has endured for eight years because of the loyalty, passion, and persistence of its veteran community, players who have invested not just time, but genuine commitment into supporting the game through every high and low. We want to see the title continue to thrive, but that can only happen if progression remains meaningful, fairness is protected, and long‑term investment is respected rather than eroded. I hope you will consider the feedback outlined above and take the necessary steps to restore confidence, preserve the integrity of the game’s core systems, and ensure that the future of The Division 2 honours the players who have stood by it since the beginning."