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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S65EIG8H3Z4
The second major expansion released for "Tom Clancy's The Division 2".
It takes place in "Brooklyn", a new open-world set in New York.
Ubisoft Massive Entertainment | Snowdrop Engine | 2025

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Open World Loot Puzzle Owner

I joined the development towards the end of the project timeline and immediately became the owner of all 23 open world loot puzzles. My task was to bring them to a shippable state.

Loot Puzzles are short environmental puzzles that reward the player with equipment and useful resources upon completion.

My responsibilities included:
  • As I joined on a quick notice and needed to get working fast, I had to learn the tools, gameplay systems and design guidelines quickly.
  • Improve player guidance, breadcrumbing, general readability & player pathing for all loot puzzles
  • Improving all puzzle scripts (sometimes requiring full re-scripting)
  • Improving and overhauling puzzle gameplay
  • Facilitate final art, lighting & audio passes
  • A lot of general bugfixing (both in-world & in-script)

Systematic Puzzle Design Overview

All loot puzzles are created out of distinct level design ingredients which are used in different combinations to create varied experiences.

01 - Water Pump

Will lower the water level in a specific area upon interaction, usually making new area accessible.

02 - Traversal Challenges

Using the climbing system to traverse vertically through the environment.

03 - Shootable Supply Drops

A supply drops box that can be shot at which point it will drop loot to the floor.

04 - Shootable Fuse Box

A fuse box that can be destroyed by shooting at it. This lets the player progress in various ways. Often requires to find the right angle.

05 - Route Creation

The player can create platforms by pushing over metal sheets. This allows them to access new areas.

06 - Rappel Rope (shootable)

A rappel rope that deploys when being shot. It allows the player to climb to a higher elevation.

07 - Rappel Rope (interactable)

Upon interaction lets down a rope which the player can use to rappel down. Often used at the end of puzzles to create a shortcut back into the open world.

08 - Locked Door (Shootable Lock)

A locked door that can be opened by shooting the lock. Requires the player to find an angle from which they can shoot the lock.

09 - Locked Door (Key Required)

A locked door that needs to be opened with a key that can be found somewhere else.

10 - Highlighting

Indicates the player what surfaces are climbable and where they need to go.

11 - Generator Hunt

The player needs to find and turn on a generator. Often uses yellow cables as a guiding element.

12 - Fuse Replacement

The player needs to find a replacement fuse to progress

13 - Entry Point Discovery

A challenge where the player has to use their spacial awareness to find a way to access a blocked off location.

14 - Follow the Line

Making players follow blood trails or yellow wires as a breadcrumbing technique for guidance

Loot Puzzles Showcase

Here is a showcase of all 23 open world loot puzzles I was the owner of. I highlighted below what kind of puzzle elements are used in each loot puzzle.

Loot Puzzle 1

Puzzle elements used: Locked Door (Shootable)

Loot Puzzle 2

Puzzle elements used: Locked Door (Shootable), Rappel Rope (Shootable)

Loot Puzzle 3

Puzzle elements used: Route Creation, Generator Hunt, Rappel Rope (Interactable), Follow the Line

Loot Puzzle 4

Puzzle elements used: Fuse Replacement, Traversal, Follow the Line

Loot Puzzle 5

Puzzle elements used: Traversal, Locked Door (Shootable)

Loot Puzzle 6

Puzzle elements used: Entry Point Discovery, Traversal, Rappel Rope (Interactable)

Loot Puzzle 7

Puzzle elements used: Water Pump, Shootable Fuse Box, Generator Hunt, Follow the Line

Loot Puzzle 8

Puzzle elements used: Locked Door (Shootable), Traversal

Loot Puzzle 9

Puzzle elements used: Entry Point Discovery, Traversal, Generator Hunt, Locked Door (Shootable), Follow the Line

Loot Puzzle 10

Puzzle elements used: Rappel Rope (Shootable), Generator Hunt, Follow the Line

Loot Puzzle 11

Puzzle elements used: Shootable Fuse Box, Generator Hunt, Follow the Line

Loot Puzzle 12

Puzzle elements used: Shootable Supply Drop, Traversal, Rappel Rope (Interactable)

Loot Puzzle 13

Puzzle elements used: Water Pump, Follow the Line

Loot Puzzle 14

Puzzle elements used: Shootable Fuse Box, Follow the Line

Loot Puzzle 15

Puzzle elements used: Traversal; Locked Door (Shootable)

Loot Puzzle 16

Puzzle elements used: Shootable Fuse Box; Traversal, Follow the Line

Loot Puzzle 17

Puzzle elements used: Generator Hunt; Rappel Rope (Shootable), Follow the Line

Loot Puzzle 18

Puzzle elements used: Traversal, Shootable Fuse Box, Rappel Rope (Shootable), Follow the Line

Loot Puzzle 19

Puzzle elements used: Entry Point Discovery; Rappel Rope (Interactable)

Loot Puzzle 20

Puzzle elements used: Fuse Replacement, Shootable Fuse Box, Follow the Line, Generator Hunt, Locked Door (Key Required)

Loot Puzzle 21

Puzzle elements used: Shootable Fuse Box, Traversal, Entry Point Discovery

Loot Puzzle 22

Puzzle elements used: Locked Door (Shootable)

Loot Puzzle 23

Puzzle elements used: Traversal, Shootable Fuse Box, Follow the Line, Generator Hunt

Loot Puzzle Deconstruction

This section breaks down one of the 23 loot puzzles in detail, revealing how its design guides the player from discovery to reward.

01 — Initial Obstacle: Missing Fuse

The player discovers a locked door with no power; a fuse is missing from the circuit.

02 — Secondary Obstacle: Door Locked

The nearby door to a gated area is also locked, forcing the player to explore alternative paths.

03 — Environmental Clue: Blood Trail

A subtle blood trail leads the player toward the key that opens the door.

04 — Gated Progression: Acquire Key

The player finds the key on a body, granting access to the previously locked gated area.

05 — Blocked Access: Locked Fuse Box

The fuse box containing a spare fuse is found, but it’s locked behind an additional layer of security.

06 — Puzzle Hint: Trace the Yellow Wire

A yellow wire leads to a destructible component; destroying it unlocks the fuse box.

07 — Puzzle Item: Retrieve the Fuse

With the fuse box unlocked, the player retrieves the fuse needed to power the door.

08 — Resolution: Power Restored

The player inserts the fuse, restoring power and unlocking the previously inaccessible door.

09 — Reward: Loot Acquired

The player enters the blocked area and collects rare loot as the main reward.

10 — Exit Strategy: Return to Open World

A rappel rope offers a quick escape route, looping the player back to the open-world exploration space.