Which version of The Division 2 should you buy?
Why shouldn't you get the Ultimate Edition?
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Standard | Gold | Ultimate | Dark Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $60 | $100 | $120 | $190 |
| Early three-day access | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Capitol Defender preorder | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Year-one season pass | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Elite Agent Pack | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Battleworn Secret Service Pack | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| First Responder Pack | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Soundtrack CD | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Phyiscal artwork | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| 30cm Division Agent Model | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
It can be easy to justify buying the most expensive edition; however, the Ultimate edition of The Division 2 doesn't offer anything that warrants an extra $20 investment above the Gold edition — and a whopping $60 more the than standard game.
Sure, the Ultimate edition has some new clothes and some of them look really good — the first responder gear looks amazing — but your outfit changes so rapidly in The Division 2 that outfits aren't worth spending real money on.
The Elite agent pack, which is only available in the Ultimate edition, may be worth your time if you want to get a bit of a leg up at the beginning of the game. It comes with an exotic rifle as well as a unique skill effect which actually help you in your quest to be the best, instead of just making you look good.
So, why choose the Gold edition?
The Gold edition is in that Goldilocks position of being "just right" for everyone. While it may be pricier than the Standard edition, it contains the season-one Play Pass which includes all of the first years downloadable content (DLC), new content, new specializations, new skins, and the preorder bonus that comes with the Standard edition.
And let's face it, all you really want from an extended edition is the season pass. The assumption is, the play pass will cost $40, so you are likely to make a $10 saving by purchasing the Gold edition.
Are there any other editions?
While the three mentioned above are the editions to really look at, there are several special editions that you may like. There is a steel-book case for the Gold, and the Ultimate editions — the Ultimate edition steel book is only available at Gamestop though — that includes all the same content but is wrapped up in a pretty metal box. The steelbooks are only $10 more expensive, so if you like a physical case, these could be right for you.
Lastly, we have the big one — the Dark Zone edition! This edition comes with an enormous amount of stuff with a pretty huge price tag. For $189, you get a whole lot of Division 2 paraphernalia, including:
- The Ultimate edition steel book.
- The preorder bonus.
- 1,050 credits to spend on the in-game store.
- The soundtrack on CD.
- A book of lithographs.
- A map of D.C.
- A 30-cm-tall figurine of an agent firing a flare gun into the air.
That's a lot of physical things for you to play with, but I speak from experience when I say, the physical things gather dust and are forgotten far too quickly.
The happy medium
The Gold edition gets you the best balance of extras and cost. While it doesn't have much in the way of fancy clothes, it does include the year-one season pass, which is worth getting early for the potential savings.
The standard is always fine
Sometimes you just can't afford to drop $100 on a game in one go. Sure, you might pay an extra $10 later in the year, but it gives you a chance to save up that money. There is nothing wrong with getting the base game to get you playing.
All of the clothes!!
The only reason to get the Ultimate edition is if you love cosmetics and like to have a selection of gear to dress your agent in. The Elite agent pack is useful, though, as it's always nice to walk into the game with extra firepower.
