mankind divided

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, developed by Eidos-Montréal and published by Square Enix, is an action role-playing video game released in August 2016 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Linux and macOS versions were also made available in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Serving as the fourth installment in the Deus Ex series, the game acts as a direct sequel to Deus Ex: Human Revolution, which was released in 2011. Combining elements of first-person shooter, stealth, and role-playing, the gameplay offers exploration, combat, and quests within the interconnected environments of Prague. Players can earn experience, customize their character’s abilities with Praxis Kits, and engage in conversations with multiple response options that influence the story’s outcome. Additionally, the game features a challenge mode called Breach, set in a virtual cyberspace, and was later released as a standalone free product.

Taking place two years after the events of Human Revolution in the year 2029, Mankind Divided depicts a world divided between regular humans and those with controversial advanced artificial organs known as “augmentations.” Following a violent event referred to as the Aug Incident, augmented individuals face segregation, sparking debates and the era of “mechanical apartheid.” The main protagonist, Adam Jensen, now equipped with new augmentations, serves as a double agent for the hacker group Juggernaut Collective to uncover the truth behind the Illuminati’s clandestine activities. The narrative delves into themes of transhumanism and discrimination, embodying the series’ recurring cyberpunk setting and conspiracy theory motif.

Development of Mankind Divided commenced after the completion of the Human Revolution expansion, The Missing Link. Eidos-Montréal aimed to enhance the gameplay, narrative, and address critiques from fans and reviewers of the previous game. The game’s gameplay and graphics engine were rebuilt from scratch to optimize it for next-generation hardware. Emphasizing realism and the game’s darker themes, the visual palette exhibited a subdued color range compared to its predecessor. Michael McCann, the composer for Human Revolution, returned to create the score alongside newcomers Sascha Dikiciyan and Ed Harrison.

The game was announced in 2015 following an extensive promotional campaign, although subsequent marketing slogans received criticism. A tier-based preorder campaign that garnered controversy among players was ultimately canceled. Post-launch, story-based downloadable content was released in 2016. Critical reception for Mankind Divided was generally positive, with praise directed at the narrative, graphics, and gameplay. Criticisms centered around the game’s campaign length and its handling of thematic elements. While the game achieved high rankings on sales charts, rumors circulated regarding its commercial performance and speculation arose regarding the future of the series.