Ubisoft's free-to-play shooter, XDefiant, is facing closure. Servers will shut down in June 2025. This article details the reasons behind this decision and its impact on players.
XDefiant Server Shutdown: June 2025
The "Sunset" Begins
Ubisoft confirmed the closure of XDefiant servers on June 3rd, 2025. The shutdown process, commencing December 3rd, 2024, will prevent new players from accessing the game or purchasing content. Refunds for in-game purchases are planned.
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. Processing may take up to 8 weeks." Refunds are expected by January 28th, 2025. Contact Ubisoft for assistance if a refund is not received by this date. Note that only the Ultimate Founders Pack is eligible for a refund.
Reasons for 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. The game fell short of expectations, making further investment unsustainable.
Impact on the Development Team
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 a projected 134 in Osaka and Sydney. This follows previous layoffs in August 2024, affecting studios in San Francisco, North Carolina, and Toronto. Ubisoft is providing severance packages and career support to affected employees.
A Positive Reflection
Despite initially exceeding 5 million users and reaching 15 million players overall, XDefiant's performance ultimately proved insufficient to justify continued investment. While initially successful, the free-to-play model requires sustained growth, which XDefiant did not achieve. Executive Producer Mark Rubin expressed gratitude for the community and highlighted the positive player-developer interactions.
Season 3 Release and Subsequent Shutdown
Despite the closure, Season 3 will launch as planned. While details are scarce, 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.
Early Reports and Market Competition
Insider Gaming reported on August 29th, 2024, citing low player numbers as a contributing factor. While initially denied, this proved accurate. The release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 between Seasons 2 and 3 likely impacted XDefiant's player retention. Ultimately, Ubisoft chose to cease development.
