Defiant no longer – XDefiant announces plans to shut down in 2025

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As a seasoned gamer who’s been through more than a few game lifecycles, I must admit, the news of XDefiant’s sunset is bittersweet. On one hand, it’s always unfortunate to see a game go, especially one with potential like XDefiant. On the other, the game seemed to be struggling for quite some time, and as they say, every ending makes way for a new beginning.

The struggling arcade shooter has finally been sunset.

Following a challenging year marked by dwindling player numbers and disappointing in-game sales for the first-person shooter game XDefiant, a closure date has been announced. Since early 2024, whispers about XDefiant shutting down have circulated, but Ubisoft’s lead developer, Mark Rubin, consistently expressed optimism about launching fresh content.

Regardless of any previous circumstances, as of December 3, 2024, XDefiant is set to discontinue its operations. By mid-2025, their servers will shut down, marking the formal end for a game once dubbed a potential “Call of Duty” competitor.

XDefiant to sunset operations and shut down

The announcement to sunset XDefiant came from Mark Rubin on Twitter/X, with the official game account reiterating Rubin’s statement shortly after. Rubin told fans that today, Dec. 3, will be the start of the sunset process for XDefiant. This means starting today, no player will be able to download XDefiant or register an account.

People who have downloaded XDefiant can keep playing until June 3, 2025. However, on that date, the servers will shut down and it won’t be possible to play XDefiant anymore. Before this happens, Season 3 of XDefiant will be launched, which is the final major update for the game.

As a gamer, I’ve got some news about XDefiant – it seems downloads aren’t available at the moment. But here’s a silver lining for those who bought the Ultimate Founders Pack or any store bundles within the last 30 days: you’re in line for a full refund! Just keep in mind, these refunds might take up to eight weeks to arrive. Make sure your payment details are accurate if you’re expecting a return.

Due to the sunset process, it’s been reported that several dozen workers on the XDefiant project at Ubisoft have already been let go today. By the time XDefiant officially shuts down in the summer of 2025, as many as 277 employees could find themselves out of work.

From now until summer, the remaining XDefiant employees at Ubisoft will function as a core team, keeping the game operational until the servers are deactivated. Those who aren’t let go are expected to be reassigned to different projects within Ubisoft.

Why is XDefiant shutting down?

As a devoted gamer, I’ve noticed a gradual dip in the number of players flocking to XDefiant since its grand launch earlier this year. This trend is worrying, especially for a free-to-play game like ours, as our financial viability hinges on in-game transactions, which thrive when player numbers are high.

Despite claims made by Insider Gaming that XDefiant was on its last legs by mid-2024, Rubin has countered this assertion, stating that the team remained dedicated to adding new content to the game throughout upcoming seasons and had not considered shutting it down. This suggests a disagreement with the report’s findings.

Ultimately, it appears that XDefiant struggled to maintain its footing in the first-person shooter (FPS) market, which remains largely controlled by Call of Duty. It’s also possible that the game lost players due to recurring problems that surfaced from the beginning. The game’s netcode, movement adjustments, and weapon balance have been ongoing issues for XDefiant up until now.

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2024-12-04 19:12