xDefiant, Ubisoft's F2P Shooter, Shutters As Studios Close and Downsize

Ubisoft has announced the closure of its free-to-play shooter, XDefiant, with servers shutting 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 operations on June 3, 2025. The shutdown process begins December 3, 2024, halting new player registration, downloads, and in-game purchases. 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 3, 2024, will also be issued. Processing may take up to 8 weeks." Refunds are expected by January 28, 2025. Contact Ubisoft for assistance if a refund isn't received by then. Note that only the Ultimate Founder's Pack is eligible for a refund; Founder's Pack and Founder's Pack Elite are not.

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 in the competitive free-to-play market. The game fell short of expectations, making further investment 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 downsize, resulting in job losses. This follows previous layoffs in August 2024 affecting studios in San Francisco, North Carolina, and Toronto. Ubisoft is providing severance and career assistance to affected employees.

Reflecting on XDefiant's Journey

Despite initially exceeding 5 million users shortly after its May 21, 2024 release (and reaching 15 million players overall), XDefiant's performance ultimately proved insufficient to justify continued support. Executive Producer Mark Rubin acknowledged the challenges of the free-to-play market and expressed gratitude for the community's positive engagement.

Season 3 Release Despite Shutdown

Despite the closure, Season 3 will launch as planned. While specifics are limited, speculation points to Assassin's Creed themed content. However, access will be restricted to players who acquired the game before December 3, 2024, aligning with the shutdown timeline. A previous blog post outlining Season 3's content has been removed.

Early Reports and Market Competition

Insider Gaming reported on August 29, 2024, citing low player numbers as a contributing factor to XDefiant's struggles. While initially denied, the shutdown announcement confirms these concerns. The release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 between Seasons 2 and 3 likely impacted XDefiant's player retention.