Ubisoft has revealed a next-generation open-world online RPG titled Tom Clancy's The Division for Xbox One and PS4.

Announced on stage by Ubisoft chief executive Yves Guilemot and developed by Massive Entertainment, a video detailed a virus spread amongst the population using money, and the subsequent collapse of society.

Here's the official blurb: "A devastating pandemic sweeps through New York City, and one by one, basic services fail. In only days, without food or water, society collapses into chaos. The Division, a classified unit of self-supported tactical agents, is activated. Leading seemingly ordinary lives among us, The Division agents are trained to operate independently of command, as all else fails. Fighting to prevent the fall of society, the agents will find themselves caught up in an epic conspiracy, forced to combat not only the effects of a manmade virus, but also the rising threat of those behind it. When everything collapses, your mission begins."

The game takes place following this pandemic, with you playing as a sleeper agent. The game is set in New York during winter.

A live gameplay demonstration showed the player in a detailed New York, communicating in co-op with another player online as they engaged in a shootout with another group of human players.

The core gameplay took the form of a third-person cover-based shooter.

After the engagement, the players enter a building before being asked by an NPC to seek out enemies elsewhere. The team tool up and head outside, talking about being able to 'visit Manhattan' before engaging in another gun fight.

"Use your skills, weapons and wits in combat," explains Ubi. "Play in a persistent and dynamic environment that combines the Tom Clancy series' core authenticity and tactical decisions, RPG action, trading and much more."

It goes on, "Team up with friends in co-op, jump in and jump out at any time and use your combined skills to fight the crisis, investigate the sources of the virus and engage all threats... Even your own citizens. Seamlessly engage in PVP, player-to-player trading, and experience suspenseful scenarios where danger can come from anywhere and anyone."

Here's a trailer and below it the live gameplay demonstration from Ubi's conference: