The answer to when you can start playing The Division 2 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC with digital pre-orders is less than straightforward. The Division 2 unlock time in the US and the UK covers multiple time zones, platforms, and even game versions. That’s why we’ve distilled everything you need to know when it comes to unlock times and even Division 2 pre-load info in to one handy-to-use guide to accompany you in the small wee hours. Here’s what time you can start playing The Division 2 tonight on release day, no matter if you’re in the Eastern time zone, PDT, or GMT.
The Division 2 Unlock Time (Early Access)
If you own the Gold or Ultimate Edition on Xbox One or PS4 (and therefore have early access to The Division 2), then things are pretty simple: you will be able to play the game at midnight in your time zone. In New York? That’s 12 AM Eastern. California? 12 AM Pacific. London? 12 AM GMT. And so on.
For uPlay users on PC, it’s a little more confusing. Because of course it is. We’ll rundown the three main time zones that players will be concerned with: Eastern, Pacific, and GMT (UK) times.
- Eastern: 1 AM EDT on March 12
- Pacific: 10 PM PDT on March 12
- GMT: 11 PM GMT on March 11
Got that? Phew.
The Division 2 Unlock Time (Standard Edition)
At least The Division 2 unlock time for those opting to stay with the Standard Edition on the March 15 launch day have things a little simpler. What’s that, they don’t? Oh, great.
The Xbox unlock time is the same no matter where you are: midnight in your local timezone on March 15.
The Division 2 unlock time for PS4 differs from region to region. Again, we’ll go through Eastern, Pacific, and GMT for you.
- Eastern: 12 AM EDT on March 15
- Pacific: 9 PM PDT on March 15
- GMT: 11 PM GMT on March 15
For PC it’s even more varied. Those on the Eastern time zone won’t be able to play The Division 2 until 1 AM Eastern on March 15. For those on the West Coast, it’s 10 PM Pacific, and if you’re in the UK it’s 11 PM GMT on March 15.
When can I pre-load The Division 2 on PC, Xbox One, and PS4?
If you own any edition of The Division 2 on either Xbox One or PC you can start pre-loading The Division 2 now.
For those on PS4? I’m so sorry, but it’s another confuse-o-thon.
If you own the Gold or Ultimate Edition in the US on PS4, then you can start pre-loading now.
For the Standard Edition in the US, there’s a pre-load time on 12 AM Eastern on March 13. That’s 9 PM Pacific on March 12.
In the UK you can pre-load now, no matter your platform.
You can find out about The Division 2 unlock times in other regions via the Ubisoft site.
Tom Clancy Franchise Tour
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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.
