The song was released as a single and recorded specifically for the soundtrack to Michael Bay's film Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

Mike Shinoda first alluded to "New Divide" on March 28, 2009, stating, "We've been working on a new song in the past couple of weeks that has been a lot of fun.

The backdrop for the song is built on layered, heavy synths and a sharp performance by [the band's drummer,] Rob Bourdon.

[7] When discussing the Transformers sequel with Blabbermouth, Michael Bay said, "I love Linkin Park... they really delivered with 'New Divide' — it's a great song that perfectly matches the film's intensity.

The cue "NEST" from Steve Jablonsky's Revenge of the Fallen musical score features instrumental excerpts from "New Divide".

Linkin Park worked with award-winning composer Hans Zimmer to rework "New Divide" into the musical score.

A live version of the song is included as a B-side to "The Catalyst" and a bonus track for the Japanese release of A Thousand Suns.

On September 4, 2012, "New Divide", along with "Breaking the Habit", "Shadow of the Day", and "Burn It Down", were released in the "Linkin Park Pack 02" as downloadable content for the music rhythm video game Rock Band 3.

[11] One of the reviews was from Chris Williams of Billboard Magazine, who wrote: " 'New Divide' fits the sci-fi genre: spacious, moody and futuristic.

[14] The video, shot on location at Paramount Studios (which distributed the Transformers films) May 13 and 14,[citation needed] is set in the Egyptian cave where the bodies of the Dynasty of the Primes and the Autobot Matrix of Leadership are hidden, and was directed by Joe Hahn, the band's DJ.

When discussing the video, Shinoda stated "[Joe Hahn's] planning on using a lot of really interesting cutting-edge visual techniques, blurring the line between our performance and some kind of digital/mechanical reality.

Despite many rumors of the female in the video being Megan Fox and even vocalist Chester Bennington's wife Talinda, she is a different actress hired to portray Mikaela Banes.

Linkin Park debuted "New Divide" for the US premiere for Revenge of the Fallen outside Mann's Theatre Village, Westwood, California, on June 22, 2009.

"New Divide" has since become Linkin Park's highest-charting song in Australia, peaking at #3 on the Aria Top 50 Singles Chart.

[citation needed] It has also reached #2 on the New Zealand RIANZ chart and was certified gold after 12 weeks, selling over 7,500 copies.