Ubisoft has officially announced the shutdown of its first-person shooter, XDefiant, just six months after its full release. Executive Producer Mark Rubin confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that the game’s servers will cease operations on June 3, 2025.
The End of XDefiant
After weeks of speculation surrounding dwindling player counts and continued support, Ubisoft revealed that the game is entering its “sunset phase.” Starting December 3, 2024, new downloads will no longer be available, leaving only existing players with the option to keep playing.
Season 3 will launch as planned, but no new content is scheduled beyond that. Players who purchased premium bundles, digital currency, or Season Passes within the last 30 days will be eligible for refunds. Additionally, those who bought the Ultimate Founders Pack, priced at $69.99 USD, will also receive a full refund.
In a blog post, Ubisoft stated, “We regret to inform you that we are initiating the sunset process starting today,” while assuring that current players can enjoy the game until its closure next June.
A Rocky Road
Despite its challenges, Rubin praised the development team’s achievements, stating, “[XDefiant] broke internal records for the fastest game to surpass 5 million users, and in the end, we had over 15 million players play our game.”
However, this announcement starkly contrasts Rubin’s earlier statements from October 16, 2024, when he assured fans there were “no plans to shut down after Season 4,” even while acknowledging a decline in player numbers.
Leaked plans had teased exciting crossovers with popular Ubisoft franchises like Assassin’s Creed and Splinter Cell, but those collaborations will now remain unrealized.
The Fallout
The closure of XDefiant is having a ripple effect across Ubisoft’s global operations. Reports indicate that up to 277 employees are being laid off as Ubisoft shutters its San Francisco and Osaka offices, while scaling back its Sydney location. Half of the remaining XDefiant team will transition to other projects, according to industry insider Stephen Totilo.
XDefiant’s Ambitious Vision
Initially marketed as a competitor to Activision’s Call of Duty, XDefiant sought to stand out as a free-to-play FPS with open communication between developers and players. The game employed several former CoD developers and aimed to deliver a fresh experience with its mix of factions, maps, and unique gameplay mechanics.
However, development was turbulent, with multiple delays before its early 2024 release. While XDefiant gained a modest but dedicated audience, its launch was plagued by bugs and performance issues that persisted for months. Subsequent updates introduced new content and fixes, but the game’s player base never achieved the long-term growth Ubisoft had hoped for.
Legacy of XDefiant
By the time its servers close, XDefiant will have been live for 378 days. Though it failed to compete with FPS titans like Call of Duty, the game offered a unique vision and captured the attention of millions of players during its short lifespan.
As Ubisoft winds down support for XDefiant, the focus shifts to what’s next for the studio and how it will navigate the challenges of an ever-evolving gaming landscape.
