Ubisoft FPS xDefiant Shuttered Amid Studio Closures

Ubisoft's free-to-play shooter, XDefiant, is shutting down. Servers will be deactivated on June 3, 2025, marking the end of its relatively short lifespan. This decision follows a period of declining player numbers and an inability to compete effectively in the crowded free-to-play market.

The shutdown process begins December 3, 2024, with the cessation of new player registrations, downloads, and in-game purchases. Ubisoft has committed to refunding in-game purchases, including a full refund for the Ultimate Founders Pack and all VC and DLC purchases made since November 3, 2024. Refunds are expected by January 28, 2025; players who haven't received theirs by then should contact Ubisoft. Note that only the Ultimate Founders Pack is eligible for a full refund.

Ubisoft's Chief Studios and Portfolio Officer, Marie-Sophie Waubert, attributed the closure to the game's failure to achieve sustainable player numbers, stating it fell short of expectations in the highly competitive free-to-play FPS market. This decision also resulted in the closure of Ubisoft's San Francisco and Osaka studios, and a significant downsizing of their Sydney studio, leading to job losses for approximately 277 employees. This adds to previous layoffs at other Ubisoft studios in August 2024.

Despite the closure, XDefiant's Season 3 will still launch as planned, although details are scarce. Initial plans, as outlined in a now-deleted blog post, included a new faction, weapons, maps, and game modes. However, access to Season 3 will be limited to players who had already purchased the game before December 3, 2024.

Rumors of XDefiant's struggles had surfaced earlier in August 2024, with reports of low player counts. While initially denied, the recent announcement confirms these concerns. The release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 between Seasons 2 and 3 is speculated to have further impacted XDefiant's player base.

Despite the disappointing news, XDefiant's Executive Producer, Mark Rubin, expressed gratitude to the community for their support and highlighted the positive interactions between players and developers. The game, released in May 2024, initially saw a surge in popularity, reaching 5 million users quickly and a total of 15 million players throughout its run, but ultimately failed to achieve long-term profitability.