Ubisoft's xDefiant F2P Shooter Shutdown Amidst Studio Closures

Ubisoft's free-to-play shooter, XDefiant, is officially shutting down its servers in June 2025. This announcement follows the game's failure to meet player retention goals. Read on for details on the shutdown and player impact.

XDefiant Server Shutdown: June 2025

The "Sunset" Begins

Ubisoft will cease XDefiant server operations on June 3rd, 2025. The shutdown process begins December 3rd, 2024, with the halting of new player registration, downloads, and in-game purchases. Ubisoft plans to issue refunds for eligible purchases.

"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 processed. Please allow up to 8 weeks for processing; refunds should be completed by January 28th, 2025. Contact Ubisoft support for assistance after this date." Note that only the Ultimate Founders Pack is eligible for a refund.

Reasons Behind the Shutdown

Ubisoft's Chief Studios and Portfolio Officer, Marie-Sophie Waubert, attributed the closure to XDefiant's inability to maintain a sustainable player base in the competitive free-to-play market. Despite initial success and dedicated fans, the game fell short of expectations for long-term player engagement and profitability. The required investment to achieve the desired results 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 significantly downsize, resulting in job losses for 143 employees in San Francisco and 134 in Osaka and Sydney combined. This follows previous layoffs in August 2024 affecting various Ubisoft studios. Ubisoft is providing severance packages and career assistance to affected employees.

Reflecting on XDefiant's Journey

While XDefiant achieved a remarkable 5 million users shortly after its May 21st, 2024, launch, and reached 15 million players overall, its long-term performance ultimately proved insufficient to justify continued support. Executive Producer Mark Rubin acknowledged the challenges of the free-to-play market and expressed gratitude to the community for their positive engagement and respectful interaction with the developers.

Season 3 Release and Subsequent Shutdown

Despite the shutdown, Season 3 will launch as planned. While details are limited, speculation points to Assassin's Creed themed content. However, access will be limited to players who acquired the game before December 3rd, 2024, due to the "sunset" process. An earlier blog post detailing Season 3's content has been removed from the official site.

Early Reports and Market Competition

Insider Gaming reported low player numbers as a contributing factor to XDefiant's struggles in August 2024. While initially denied by Rubin, the shutdown announcement confirms these concerns. The release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 between Seasons 2 and 3 likely further impacted XDefiant's player base. Ultimately, Ubisoft determined that the game's prospects were not viable.