The Division open beta gets official release date — comes early to Xbox One

Publisher Ubisoft is doing one more big test for its online shooter before releasing the final product on the world next month.

Tom Clancy’s The Division is getting an open beta test February 18 for Microsoft’s Xbox One. PlayStation 4 and PC players will get access beginning February 19. This trial period, which will help the publisher see how the game operates under heavy use, runs through February 21. Tests like these are important because game companies can use them as free promotion for their big releases in addition to using them to understand where their games might crash or fail under stress. By combining a marketing promotion with a necessary test that might help The Division have a smoother launch, Ubisoft can save a little bit of money while potentially ensuring that its main release for March doesn’t give an awful first impression as a broken game to fans who just spent $60.