Ubisoft has announced the closure of its free-to-play shooter, XDefiant, with servers scheduled 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's online operations on June 3rd, 2025. The shutdown process begins December 3rd, 2024, preventing new players from accessing the game or purchasing in-game content. Refunds for eligible 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 3rd, 2024, will also be issued. Please allow up to 8 weeks for processing. Refunds should be completed by January 28th, 2025. Contact Ubisoft support if you haven't received your refund by then." Note that only the Ultimate Founders Pack is eligible for a full refund.
Reasons Behind the Closure
Marie-Sophie Waubert, Ubisoft's Chief Studios and Portfolio Officer, explained that XDefiant failed to achieve the player base needed for sustainability within the competitive free-to-play market. Despite initial success and dedicated players, the game couldn't maintain sufficient player numbers to justify continued investment.
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 a projected 134 in Osaka and Sydney combined). This follows previous layoffs in August 2024 affecting various Ubisoft studios. Ubisoft is providing support to affected employees.
A Positive Reflection
Despite reaching 15 million players and initially exceeding internal expectations (5 million players shortly after launch), XDefiant's long-term performance didn't meet Ubisoft's financial targets. Executive Producer Mark Rubin highlighted the positive player-developer relationship fostered by the game, emphasizing open and respectful communication. He expressed gratitude to the players for their support.
Season 3 Release and Prior Reports
While the game is closing, Season 3 will launch as planned. Although details are limited, speculation points to content from the Assassin's Creed franchise. A previous blog post detailing Season 3's content has been removed.
Insider Gaming's August 2024 report about XDefiant's low player count and potential closure, initially denied by Rubin, proved accurate. The release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 between Seasons 2 and 3 may have impacted XDefiant's player retention.
