As previously stated, Ubisoft’s free-to-play shooter is now reaching its conclusion. After nearly a year, the service is being discontinued.
Six months can pass swiftly when you’re enjoying yourself. Nonetheless, XDefiant likely contributed only a little to this enjoyment, as player counts have consistently diminished since its launch.
Consequently, Ubisoft declared in December 2024 that the multiplayer shooter would be permanently shut down on June 3, 2025.
A strong beginning isn’t everything
June 3 signifies the end for XDefiant. The free shooter has been removed from stores since December. Players who previously owned the game could still enjoy the third and final season until June, but now, it is truly over, Offline support is also no longer provided
At least purchasers of the Ultimate Founder’s Pack or other premium content were eligible for a refund. After all, this content is now permanently inaccessible.
However, such a conclusion was not anticipated at the game’s launch in May 2024. Labeled the “CoD killer” by many, the newly released XDefiant reportedly attracted three million players within just 48 hours, despite existing bugs and various technical difficulties. Even during the beta phase, it received significant praise, including from veteran CoD players.
Nonetheless, the technical issues persisted throughout the first season, and patches failed to reverse the drop in players. XDefiant’s presence on Twitch dwindled as well. During its final moments on June 3, the shooter garnered just 30 viewers.
Initially, lead developer Mark Rubin remained optimistic, but now we know the outcome of those plans. XDefiant’s lifespan was confined to merely one year, and with its termination, hundreds of developers faced job loss.
The live service model may seem appealing due to its potential for longevity, but only a select few games can thrive using this approach. XDefiant is merely one instance in a long history. You can explore more about the current difficulties confronting the shooter genre in the link box above.
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