Ubisoft Shuts Down XDefiant, Free-to-Play Shooter; Refunds Announced
3 min read
Ubisoft has officially announced that it is discontinuing development on XDefiant, its free-to-play first-person shooter. The decision marks the end of a bold venture into the competitive FPS market, as the game struggled to maintain player engagement and revenue in a saturated space.
A Difficult Decision and Studio Closures
As part of the decision, Ubisoft will close its production studios in San Francisco and Osaka while downsizing its Sydney site. The closure impacts 143 employees in San Francisco and 134 in Osaka and Sydney, many of whom will be transitioning to other roles within Ubisoft. A smaller team will oversee the release of XDefiant‘s final content before the game sunsets entirely on June 3, 2025.
BREAKING: XDefiant is shutting down. pic.twitter.com/8U3oWEi5rF
— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) December 3, 2024
The news was shared during an internal meeting, citing declining player numbers and insufficient in-game spending as the main reasons behind the shutdown. Despite the initial hype and strong launch numbers—surpassing 15 million players— XDefiant
Refunds and Final Content Release
Ubisoft confirmed that as of December 3, 2024, new downloads and registrations for XDefiant will no longer be available. The company will still release Season 3 content soon, but this will mark the end of the game’s development. Players who purchased the Ultimate Founder’s Pack or made in-game purchases within the last 30 days will receive refunds, which should be processed by January 28, 2025.
A Vision Cut Short
Executive producer Mark Rubin expressed his disappointment in a heartfelt message to the game’s community. He praised the development team for their dedication and innovation, including the removal of skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) and a focus on a more traditional arcade shooter experience. Rubin acknowledged that while free-to-play games often require long-term investment to succeed, XDefiant ultimately fell short of the results needed to justify further development.
Dear Players,
— XDefiant (@PlayXDefiant) December 3, 2024
Important message: XDEFIANT IS SUNSETTING!
Thank you for your incredible support and dedication to XDEFIANT. We regret to inform you that we are initiating the sunset process starting today, December 3, 2024.
As a result, new downloads, player registrations and… pic.twitter.com/h0kXRowL5T
“Despite an encouraging start and a passionate team, we’ve not been able to attract and retain enough players to compete at the level we aimed for,” said Marie-Sophie de Waubert, Ubisoft’s chief studios and portfolio officer.
Challenges for Ubisoft
The closure of XDefiant adds to a string of challenges for Ubisoft, including underperformance from titles like Skull & Bones and delays for highly anticipated games such as Assassin’s Creed: Shadows. Critics have pointed to Ubisoft’s expansive workforce and ambitious projects as contributing factors to these setbacks.
For fans and developers alike, the shutdown of XDefiant is a bittersweet ending to a game that sought to redefine the FPS landscape. As the industry evolves, the experience serves as a reminder of the risks and rewards of innovation in an increasingly competitive market.
Truly a shame, I don't think I'll ever share the same passion for a game ever again. Thank you for all the memories 🤧💔
— Clue (@ClueFPS) December 4, 2024
That's tough man, the market is oversaturated, some players are in COD and the game had some really import things to fix.
— Znorux // (@Znorux) December 3, 2024
Thank you guys, it wasn't a bad game at all.
SAY JK RIGHT NOOWW😭! My heart is broken! XD was literally my very first first-person shooting game. Spent so many hrs trying to learn and fell in love with how chill it was regardless of its flaws😔 what da fuck am I gunna play, I hate it here!
— sweet. (@swettartstv) December 3, 2024
Shivam Kumar
Hi, I'm Shivam Kumar. I'm pursuing Journalism honors from the IP University. I love the skill of writing and looking forward to learn more of it. Also I love traveling and experiencing new things every day....
