Ubisoft Scraps Defiant, Unveils Studio Closures

Ubisoft has announced the closure of its free-to-play shooter, XDefiant, with servers slated 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 operations on June 3, 2025. The shutdown process commences December 3, 2024, halting new player registrations, downloads, and in-game purchases. Refunds for eligible purchases are underway.

"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. Please allow up to 8 weeks for processing. Refunds should be completed by January 28, 2025. Contact Ubisoft support if you haven't received your refund by then." Note that only the Ultimate Founders Pack is eligible for a refund.

Reasons Behind the Closure

Marie-Sophie Waubert, Ubisoft's Chief Studios and Portfolio Officer, attributed the shutdown to XDefiant's failure to achieve sustainable player numbers in the competitive free-to-play market. Despite initial success and dedicated players, the game fell short of expectations for long-term viability. Further investment was deemed 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 previous layoffs in August 2024 affecting other Ubisoft studios. Ubisoft is providing severance and career support to affected employees.

A Positive Farewell

Despite reaching 15 million players and initially exceeding internal expectations (5 million users shortly after launch), XDefiant's performance ultimately proved insufficient to justify continued support. While the free-to-play market demands long-term investment, the game's trajectory made continued investment untenable. Executive Producer Mark Rubin expressed gratitude for the community and highlighted the positive interactions between developers and players.

Season 3 Launch Despite Shutdown

Despite the impending closure, Season 3 will launch as planned, though details remain scarce. Speculation points to content from the Assassin's Creed franchise. While a previous roadmap indicated new factions, weapons, maps, and modes, access will be limited to players who acquired the game before December 3, 2024. The original roadmap post has since been removed.

Early Reports and Market Competition

Insider Gaming reported on August 29, 2024, citing sources within Ubisoft, that low player numbers were contributing to XDefiant's struggles. While this was initially denied, the subsequent shutdown announcement confirms these concerns. The release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 between XDefiant's Season 2 and 3 likely impacted player retention.