Ubisoft's Free-to-Play FPS, xDefiant, Discontinued

Ubisoft's XDefiant: A Free-to-Play Shooter's Unexpected Demise

Ubisoft has announced the closure of its free-to-play shooter, XDefiant, with servers scheduled to shut down on June 3, 2025. This decision follows a period of declining player numbers and ultimately, the game's inability to meet Ubisoft's financial expectations within the competitive F2P market.

The Shutdown Process:

Beginning December 3, 2024, XDefiant will enter a "sunset" phase. New players will be unable to download, register, or purchase the game or its DLCs. Ubisoft plans to issue refunds for in-game purchases: full refunds for the Ultimate Founders Pack and purchases made since November 3, 2024. Refunds are expected by January 28, 2025; contact Ubisoft for assistance if not received by then. Note that only the Ultimate Founders Pack is eligible for a full refund.

Reasons for Closure:

According to Marie-Sophie Waubert, Ubisoft's Chief Studios and Portfolio Officer, XDefiant failed to attract and retain a sufficient player base to compete effectively in the demanding free-to-play FPS market. The game fell short of profitability targets, making further investment unsustainable.

Impact on the Development Team:

Approximately half of XDefiant's global team will transition to other roles within Ubisoft. However, the San Francisco and Osaka studios will close, and the Sydney studio will downsize, resulting in significant job losses (143 in San Francisco, and approximately 134 in Osaka and Sydney combined). This follows previous layoffs in August 2024 across various Ubisoft American studios. Ubisoft is providing severance packages and career assistance to affected employees.

A Positive Note and Season 3:

Despite the closure, XDefiant's Executive Producer, Mark Rubin, highlighted the positive aspects of the game's community and the unique developer-player interaction. While the game initially saw success, reaching 5 million users shortly after launch and a total of 15 million players, it ultimately proved financially unsustainable.

Season 3 will still launch as planned, although details remain scarce. Previous plans hinted at Assassin's Creed-themed content. However, access will be limited to those who purchased the game before December 3, 2024.

Early Reports and the Release of Call of Duty:

Insider Gaming reported on August 29, 2024, citing sources within Ubisoft, that XDefiant's player count was critically low. While initially denied, this proved accurate. The release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 between Seasons 2 and 3 likely contributed to XDefiant's declining player base.

The closure of XDefiant marks a significant setback for Ubisoft, highlighting the challenges of sustaining a free-to-play game in a fiercely competitive market.