The Division: Ubisoft discusses next-gen Snowdrop engine & more

Tom Clancy's The Division publisher Ubisoft has posted a large Q&A on its next-gen shooter. Developer Ubisoft Massive has shed light on its new Snowdrop engine, it's consultation of ex-CIA agents, and the game's RPG features.

Electronic Theatre has the whole blasted thing here. Caution: it's huge, but it does lend new insight into the game's many mechanics and features.

On the game's next-gen Snowdrop engine, Massive writes, "Our goal at Massive is to focus on making the best game possible for the players, to increase immersion in our universe and to make them feel like they are part of a real-life situation.

"In our case, in order to build a universe about the fragility of society, we needed to create a brand new engine called Snowdrop, designed from the ground up to harness the power of the next generation of consoles and that allows us to create a universe offering a wide variety of features, such as a reactive living-world system with complex AI, procedural destruction and dynamic global illumination.

"We were also able to integrate more objects than ever before in the environment in order to create a devastated and chaotic New York."

The post adds, "Next-gen consoles also focus on online and social features. Within our engine, we have developed a new platform with a state-of-the-art matchmaking technology. That enables you to play with people that match your play-style, preferences and behavior.

"One thing we are really proud of is our truly unique experience: a companion gaming app with real-time gameplay on smart phones and tablets, that lets one of your friends play with you from anywhere, anytime."

Speaking of The Division's companion app, you can check out Sam Clay's video interview with Ubisoft Massive on how it lets players pilot drones over the world's map using a tablet or other device.

Elsewhere, Massive shed light on its consultation with various individuals to make The Division's survivalist New York setting as authentic as possible, "For The Division, we have consulted with ex CIA agents, the military, survivalists, doctors, as well as experts in this kind of scenario. We are also lucky to have in our teams at Massive, people who have experience on these matters, which is valuable for this game.

"Some team members have even participated in survival trainings to develop first-hand experience of living without the things we all take for granted like food or water."

Check out the post and let us know what you think below. The Division hits PS4 and Xbox One in 2014.

Thanks OXM.