Ubisoft's free-to-play shooter, XDefiant, is facing closure. Server shutdown is slated for June 2025. This article details the announcement and its impact on players.
XDefiant Servers to Shut Down June 2025
The "Sunset" Begins
Ubisoft confirmed XDefiant's server closure on June 3, 2025. The shutdown process starts December 3, 2024, halting new player registrations, downloads, and purchases of the game and its DLC. Refunds for in-game purchases are underway.
Ubisoft states: "Players who purchased the Ultimate Founders Pack will receive a full refund. Refunds for VC and DLC purchases made since November 3, 2024, will also be issued. Processing may take up to 8 weeks."
Refunds are expected by January 28, 2025. Contact Ubisoft for assistance if a refund isn't received by then. Note: Only the Ultimate Founders Pack is eligible for a refund.
Why the Shutdown?
Marie-Sophie Waubert, Ubisoft's Chief Studios and Portfolio Officer, explained that XDefiant failed to meet player retention targets in the competitive free-to-play market. The game's performance didn't justify further investment.
“Despite a promising start and dedicated fans, we haven't attracted and retained enough players to compete effectively in the demanding free-to-play FPS market,” she stated. "The game is too far from achieving the necessary results to warrant further significant investment."
Team Transitions and Studio Changes
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 134 anticipated in Osaka and Sydney).
This follows previous layoffs in August 2024, affecting 45 employees across American studios and 33 in Toronto. Ubisoft is providing severance packages and career assistance.
A Positive Reflection
Despite initial success (5 million users shortly after its May 21, 2024 launch, and 15 million total players), XDefiant's performance wasn't sustainable. Executive Producer Mark Rubin acknowledged the challenges of the free-to-play market and the difficult decision to end development.
"Free-to-play is a marathon, not a sprint," Rubin explained. "While we were prepared for a long journey, ultimately, continuing wasn't feasible."
Rubin expressed gratitude for the community and highlighted the positive player-developer interactions.
Season 3 Still Launching
XDefiant's Season 3 will launch as planned, though details are limited. Speculation points to Assassin's Creed content. The initial Season 3 roadmap, mentioning new factions, weapons, maps, and modes, has been removed from the website. Access to Season 3 will be limited to players who acquired the game before December 3, 2024.
Early Reports of XDefiant's Struggles
Insider Gaming reported low player counts as a contributing factor in August 2024, a claim initially denied by Rubin. The subsequent announcement confirms these concerns. The release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 between Seasons 2 and 3 likely impacted XDefiant's player base.
