Ubisoft’s The Division is a pretty damned good game – but it’s got a number of issues that, especially on PC, are causing many of even its most ardent supporters to give up. Mostly, the game’s become a bit of a hacker’s paradise. There are glitches, exploits and hacks that allow less scrupled players to farm for items or stack bonuses.
But worse are the third-party software hacks that have made the PC version of the Dark Zone somewhere you just don’t want to be. And it’s getting worse, with the hacker problem becoming endemic.
Ubisoft vowed to fix the problem, of course. Cheats of this ilk were noticed in the beta version before the game’s release last month
“We are aware of the cheating issues in the closed beta on PC. The team is fully committed to providing solutions against this and a system will be in place to ensure a fair experience for players when the game is released on March 8,” Ubisoft said back then.
Hackers still run rife – and according to one developer, it’s something that won’t be going away, unless Ubisoft Massive rewrites the game’s entire netcode.
Speaking on his blog, networking developer Glenn Fiedler said that fixing The Division would take a rewrite to fix. Fielder worked for five years as lead network programmer at Sony Computer Entertainment, and worked on the frankly excellent networking code for Titanfall and its sequel, so he very probably knows what he’s talking about.
“A lot of people are complaining online about cheating in The Division lately,” Fiedler wrote on his blog. “So much so that it’s starting to hit mainstream media.”
“The first videos I saw were the usual overly smug glitchers out there, super proud to have discovered things the QA department should have probably picked up when testing the game. [It’s] not a great thing to see in a shipped game, but also not the end of the world.”
And then he saw a video (now removed) that shows how hackers are using client side software to change variables – which means there’s close to no server side authentication of any of The Division’s data.
“Here we have a client-side cheat program that is poking memory locations and giving players infinite health, infinite ammo, and teleporting players around the level,” Fiedler said, which suggests the game is using a trusted client network model. “I sincerely hope this is not the case, because if it is true, my opinion of can this be fixed is basically no. Not on PC. Not without a complete rewrite.”
The Division would need to be rewritten to use a server-authoritive network model like “top tier FPS games like Call of Duty, Overwatch and Titanfall” do, where the decisions about what hits, what doesn’t, and what the variables in play are done by the servers.
Without that, The Division’s long-term success, at least on PC, is likely doomed.
Last Updated: April 28, 2016
Pariah
April 28, 2016 at 08:39
I’m super glad I didn’t pick this up now…
Captain JJ vs ..............
April 28, 2016 at 08:40
Yea, it just never really grabbed my interest.
Pariah
April 28, 2016 at 08:40
It had mine, but the price was pulling my interest in another direction.
Ottokie
April 28, 2016 at 08:46
I could have used the money I spent on this for toilet paper -_-
Captain JJ vs ..............
April 28, 2016 at 08:39
Sucks to see this happen to games. I may not think much of the Division myself, but this isn’t right. These people paid to play a game the way it’s meant to be played and then this.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
April 28, 2016 at 08:47
It does, if it’s not a broken port it gets hacked to pieces.
BakedBagel
April 28, 2016 at 08:48
To think its 2016 LUL
And games that cost an arm and a leg are still being effected by problems people where facing in 1999.
What the F.
Pariah
April 28, 2016 at 08:49
Every game is a horror game it seems.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
April 28, 2016 at 08:44
http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1319/13196847/2382683-3944232984-10682.jpg
Pariah
April 28, 2016 at 08:45
Hail Hydra
BakedBagel
April 28, 2016 at 08:47
Superior gaming
Inferior netcode
Superior pre-orders
fuck gaming tbh
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
April 28, 2016 at 08:47
Ubisoft should refund people
Captain JJ vs ..............
April 28, 2016 at 08:49
So should the ANC.
Both are equally unlikely.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
April 28, 2016 at 08:50
PAY BACK THE MONEY!
BakedBagel
April 28, 2016 at 08:52
Ubisoft are bladdy agents and we need to convict them for high treason.
Their* agents are in the media!!!!!!1one
Captain JJ vs ..............
April 28, 2016 at 08:48
That’s not how our crest looks. Everyone knows the eagle has GabeN’s face.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
April 28, 2016 at 08:50
His face is too fat, the crest would break
Captain JJ vs ..............
April 28, 2016 at 08:51
I’m proud to have fed that face.
Pariah
April 28, 2016 at 09:44
That’s some weird fetish you have man. I love PC gaming, but you’re on some whole new level of creepy.
HvR
April 28, 2016 at 09:45
Gaben should pull a Tyson Fury. “A FAT MAN BEAT YOU!!!”
BakedBagel
April 28, 2016 at 08:45
And people pre-ordered this. They started getting money for this game before the fucking game was released.
HOW ABOUT. YOU FIX THE DAMN PROBLEM BEFORE RELEASE.
Captain JJ vs ..............
April 28, 2016 at 08:48
Well, it’s Ubisoft. What else could we really have expected?
BakedBagel
April 28, 2016 at 08:49
Now that you pointed this out. I dont even know why im angry anymore tbh.
Should have expected this.
Stuart
April 28, 2016 at 08:46
good one, shout how broken the games netcode is so you draw attention too it, excellent idea well done.
Ottokie
April 28, 2016 at 08:48
I for one have quite completely because of how bad the exploits have become. It’s not just rumors, go jump into the game and confirm it for yourself.
Stuart
April 28, 2016 at 08:50
well i play daily so i know, but they were going to hack anyway hackers doo that they NEED to do it because they have 0 skill and interpersonal skills so the only way to get attention is to hack, we dont need public exposure to weakness’s even though sometimes nessisery
Captain JJ vs ..............
April 28, 2016 at 08:51
Somewhere in Pretoria Admiral Chief is having a stroke.
Ottokie
April 28, 2016 at 08:52
xD
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
April 28, 2016 at 08:52
I could hear him over Skype, and we only chat through text
Captain JJ vs ..............
April 28, 2016 at 08:52
Hehehe
Admiral Chief in New York
April 28, 2016 at 09:26
Did I miss something?
(stupid Thursday morning meetings)
Admiral Chief in New York
April 28, 2016 at 09:54
I have to resist…
Ottokie
April 28, 2016 at 08:52
True, but take GTA5 for example. If I did not read about how bad hackers where in online play, I would have bought it and be very salty in a week or two for wasting money.
BakedBagel
April 28, 2016 at 08:52
Thats a tad diff imo
You can still get hours of fun in Single Player 😛
Ottokie
April 28, 2016 at 08:53
Whats “single player” ?
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
April 28, 2016 at 08:53
Me on Friday nights
Ottokie
April 28, 2016 at 08:54
https://ijustwentcrazy.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/i-know-that-feel-bro.jpg
Captain JJ vs ..............
April 28, 2016 at 08:54
Or just Trevor.
#hestartedit
Alien Emperor Trevor
April 28, 2016 at 09:03
I did? But I was happily minding my own busine… oh, I get it now. 🙁
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
April 28, 2016 at 09:03
XD
BakedBagel
April 28, 2016 at 08:54
self rek
;-;
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
April 28, 2016 at 08:56
Heh. maybe I prefer it that way……….
*cries
Captain JJ vs ..............
April 28, 2016 at 08:53
Can’t you host private games too? For friends only.
BakedBagel
April 28, 2016 at 08:54
I think so. Cant confirm.
Ive stayed off Online ever since i heard heckers can take all your cash lmfao
Captain JJ vs ..............
April 28, 2016 at 08:55
Well, I haven’t bought it yet. Since Rockstar likes to pull dodgy sales tactics on Steam.
Stuart
April 28, 2016 at 08:53
i guess thats true, but i never buy a GTA for online anyway, especially now though seeming as single player content has been dropped in favor for online, i wont be picking the next one up either if it continues that way
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
April 28, 2016 at 08:54
Yeah, sucks balls. GTA4 had such good SP DLC.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
April 28, 2016 at 08:52
Wait…. you’re not hacking The Division are you? Is that why we aren’t supposed to hear of this?
(Just pulling your leg :P)
Stuart
April 28, 2016 at 08:54
I see your point, and like i totally get why this article was posted it’s damned if you do damned if you don’t but it just draws out more hackers i would not be supprised if hacking went up 20% after today
but maybe thats a good thing and it will force the dev’s hands
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
April 28, 2016 at 08:55
Hopefully, but to rewrite the whole game…
Captain JJ vs ..............
April 28, 2016 at 08:56
To rewrite that stuff is like trying to convince Ubisoft them that no one likes Uplay.
BakedBagel
April 28, 2016 at 08:57
After talking internally we have decided to re-write Uplay.
We get no one likes it but lmfao who cares XD
Captain JJ vs ..............
April 28, 2016 at 08:59
They probably pumped money into it, and knowing Ubisoft they’re probably like: “We’ve spent R10 on making Uplay, therefor it WILL be used at all times. We don’t care if you bought the game on Steam, Uplay is the omega client!”
BakedBagel
April 28, 2016 at 09:00
And to create incentive we can have a points system to reward users with stuff like wallpapers (teenage 3310 memories right now)
Captain JJ vs ..............
April 28, 2016 at 09:01
Yes! Apparently Ubisoft hasn’t heard of Google images before.
BakedBagel
April 28, 2016 at 08:55
20% LUL
Stuart
April 28, 2016 at 08:56
i work in purchasing (i ramble about percentages all day long) XD
BakedBagel
April 28, 2016 at 08:56
86% of percentages are made up on the spot 😛
Ottokie
April 28, 2016 at 08:57
60% of the time, it works every time.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
April 28, 2016 at 08:57
And now he’s Ant-Man
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
April 28, 2016 at 08:57
You are 72% correct
Captain JJ vs ..............
April 28, 2016 at 08:57
I’ve missed about 73% of this conversation, now I’m just posting a comment with a percentage in it.
Ottokie
April 28, 2016 at 08:58
80% for effort
Stuart
April 28, 2016 at 08:57
i propose about 50% of what you said is true
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
April 28, 2016 at 08:49
Seeing he’s a journalist I agree, well done. He even added a link to a video as proof
Captain JJ vs ..............
April 28, 2016 at 08:50
Yes. Well done
*claps
BakedBagel
April 28, 2016 at 08:51
LUL
What does it matter? Its already plaguing the game to the point where devs are saying we need to rewrite the netcode.
Did you read it :^)
James Anderton
April 28, 2016 at 09:33
Are you living in the same bubble Ubisoft Massive seem to be living in?
Because its pretty much a Meme at this point.
Skittle
April 28, 2016 at 08:51
PC master race
VampyreSquirrel
April 28, 2016 at 08:57
We’ll see if they fix this, though it makes the DZ more frustrating than it’s worth… that being said GTA Online on the PC is mostly COMPLETELY dead because of the initial hacks and exploits after release, people don’t WANT to go back to it.
BakedBagel
April 28, 2016 at 08:59
I just want to fucking co-op with 3 friends.
Is it that hard Cock*?
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
April 28, 2016 at 09:00
The DZ was a mess from the start thanks to Troll Squads, now they’ve added an incursion and that’s it. There’s nothing more to this game other than upping your stats, This is the worst purchase I’ve made in a long while
BakedBagel
April 28, 2016 at 09:01
Did you pre-order? 🙁
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
April 28, 2016 at 09:40
Nope, nor did I get the season pass
VampyreSquirrel
April 28, 2016 at 09:12
Agreed. I haven’t even done the incursion, actually I haven’t played since before the incursion was released.
Ottokie
April 28, 2016 at 09:01
Hey Vamps, where have you been 😛
http://33.media.tumblr.com/82d9d1df52ce95ad8eb593b7a80b0e3f/tumblr_inline_nywfu3xzdE1rup8k6_540.gif
Captain JJ vs ..............
April 28, 2016 at 09:02
I was going to say hibernating, but who knows what the habits of a blood-sucking squirrel is?
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
April 28, 2016 at 09:03
Full Moon was out these past few days, so I’d say hunting?
VampyreSquirrel
April 28, 2016 at 09:11
Pick either @johnambitious:disqus or @hammersteyn:disqus answers… one is right 😛
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
April 28, 2016 at 09:20
Yeah, I’ve grown quite tired of it, I’m going to give it a break until it’s sorted, that or until the game feels like a brand new experience all over again….
Admiral Chief in New York
April 28, 2016 at 09:27
DZ is a mess, but the SP and co-op is super fun, mostly
Admiral Chief in New York
April 28, 2016 at 09:38
http://i.imgur.com/Ti19YWY.png
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
April 28, 2016 at 09:43
LOL the little Apple note book
Admiral Chief in New York
April 28, 2016 at 09:45
IKR? Cracked me up
Pariah
April 28, 2016 at 09:43
Bet that cockroach has infinite health and ammo.
Viper_ZA
April 28, 2016 at 13:29
Glad I got this on console instead, 44 hours in and still enjoying it.
ElNicko
April 28, 2016 at 14:02
Regrettably purchased this with 2 mates. Had fun while levelling but haven’t touched it in 3 weeks after the DZ became hacker central. Maybe in 6 months might dust this off again
John
April 28, 2016 at 14:25
It’s what they get for being lazy and putting everything client side.