The Division 2 – New Update, In-Game Holiday Event Available Now

Title Update 6.1 for The Division 2 is out now. In addition to an assortment of gameplay fixes and quality-of-life improvements, the update comes with two big additions: a special holiday event that can net players a snowball-spewing weapon, and a new Hardcore Mode (still in beta) that challenges players to see how far they can get when the cost of failure is permadeath.

The in-game event, called Situation: Snowball, comes with a free care package that includes a Santa hat for any players who log in between now and January 7. As you explore Washington, DC, you’ll also encounter elusive Hoarder enemies, recognizable by their Santa hats; take one down, and they’ll drop an exclusive Sleigher gun that shoots snowballs and confuses any enemies it hits. The update also includes the Silent Night apparel event, which adds 35 new cosmetic items and gifts one free Apparel Cache key to all players who log in during the event (with Year One Pass owners getting an additional three keys). In keeping with the holiday spirit, players can now gift the Apparel Event caches that they purchase to other players.

Players looking for a way to heighten the danger of post-pandemic Washington, DC can try out Hardcore Mode, which makes death permanent – meaning you’ll have to start over from the beginning of the game with a brand new Agent. Still in beta, with more features to come in the future, Hardcore Mode challenges you to see how far you can get without being taken down, and grants special rewards to players who manage to survive long enough to level up their Agents. Your odds of survival improve considerably in co-op, so consider squadding up if you want to hang in long enough to see what a Hardcore endgame is like.

The Division 2 is available now for Xbox One, PS4, and PC, and is included in a UPLAY+ subscription. For more on the game, check out our previous coverage.