Ubisoft's F2P Shooter, xDefiant, Ends Development

Ubisoft has announced the closure of its free-to-play shooter, XDefiant, with servers scheduled to shut down in June 2025. This article details the shutdown and its impact on players.

XDefiant Server Shutdown: June 2025

The "Sunset" Begins

Ubisoft will officially cease XDefiant's operations on June 3, 2025. The shutdown process begins December 3, 2024, preventing new players from accessing the game or purchasing DLCs. Refunds for in-game purchases are underway.

Ubisoft states: "Full refunds will be issued for Ultimate Founders Pack purchases. Refunds will also be provided for VC and DLC purchases made since November 3, 2024. Please allow up to 8 weeks for processing. Refunds should be completed by January 28, 2025. Contact Ubisoft support for assistance after this date." Only the Ultimate Founder's Pack is eligible for a refund.

Reasons Behind the Closure

Marie-Sophie Waubert, Ubisoft's Chief Studios and Portfolio Officer, explained that XDefiant failed to achieve the player base necessary for sustainability within the competitive free-to-play market. The game fell short of projections, making further investment unsustainable.

Team Transitions and Studio Closures

Approximately half of XDefiant's 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 earlier layoffs in August 2024 across various American Ubisoft studios. Ubisoft is providing severance packages and career support to affected employees.

A Positive Reflection

Despite a promising start (5 million users shortly after launch and 15 million total players), XDefiant's performance ultimately proved insufficient to justify continued investment. Executive Producer Mark Rubin acknowledged the challenges of the free-to-play market and expressed gratitude for the positive player community.

Season 3 Release and Prior Reports

Despite the shutdown, Season 3 will launch as planned. While specifics are limited, speculation points to Assassin's Creed themed content. This contradicts an earlier August 2024 report from Insider Gaming suggesting the game's demise due to low player numbers, a claim initially denied by Rubin. The release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 may have further impacted XDefiant's player retention.

Ultimately, Ubisoft's decision to end XDefiant reflects the challenges of the free-to-play market and the need to prioritize sustainable projects.