Summary

  • XDefiant is set to launch on May 21 across Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, but will skip Steam and Epic Games Store at first.
  • Players can control factions from popular Ubisoft games with unique abilities, and the game will have four seasons of post-launch content.
  • Preloading is available now for players to prepare for the launch of XDefiant, with upcoming seasons and updates planned.

Ubisoft's new multiplayer FPS XDefiant has become available for gamers to preload. Set to go live on May 21, XDefiant will be free-to-play and will launch on Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Ubisoft Connect. Strangely, the title is skipping Steam and Epic Games Store; Ubisoft has yet to confirm whether XDefiant will come to these popular PC storefronts in the future.

As Ubisoft's Call of Duty competitor, XDefiant certainly has a lot to live up to. Helping it stand out are its several different factions based on other Ubisoft games that players can take control of. The Division's Cleaners, Splinter Cell's Echelon, Watch Dogs' Dedsec, Far Cry 6's Libertad, and Ghost Recon's Phantoms will all be available to players at launch. Each faction is home to three different characters with their own unique sets of abilities to try out. After a rocky reveal in 2021 and several delays, XDefiant's open beta last summer was met with better reception. Enduring another recent handful of delays, Ubisoft's answer to Call of Duty is finally ready to go next week.

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Just a few days ahead of its May 21 launch, Ubisoft announced that XDefiant is now ready to be preloaded. Xbox, PlayStation, and Ubisoft Connect users on PC can prepare for its release by having the entire game installed ahead of time, eliminating the need to wait on launch day. Despite some eager fans requesting Ubisoft to turn the servers on early, gamers won't get to actually play XDefiant until the game's proper release next week.

Where To Preload XDefiant

  • Xbox Series X|S
  • PlayStation 5
  • Ubisoft Connect PC

With massive titles like Call of Duty, Apex Legends, Overwatch 2, and Valorant dominating the multiplayer FPS landscape, it'll be interesting to see whether XDefiant will be able to join them by carving out a piece of the market and finding continued success. As a live service game, being free-to-play is certainly a good start, though having a steady stream of content and updates is equally important. XDefiant will launch with 14 maps, 24 weapons, and five modes, with the Dedsec faction needing to be either purchased or unlocked. Ubisoft has already detailed XDefiant's first year of post-launch seasonal content, with four seasons planned thus far, each bringing a new playable faction, three new weapons, three maps, and a 90-tier battle pass.

XDefiant's preseason will coincide with the game's May 21 launch and will last six weeks. Season 1 of XDefiant will then begin, with each new season lasting three months. With a June 10 Ubisoft Forward on the horizon, there's a very strong chance XDefiant players will get a glimpse at the game's first post-launch season at the event.

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XDefiant Tag Page Cover Art
XDefiant
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FPS
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Systems
PC-1 PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
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Released
May 21, 2024
ESRB
T For Teen due to Mild Language, Violence
Developer(s)
Ubisoft San Francisco
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XDefiant is a free-to-play, first-person online arena shooter where you compete in fast-paced clashes. With cross-play available at launch, you will be able to play with friends on a variety of platforms.

Season 1 introduces the Team Rainbow operators of GS-Kommando leveraging their counter-terrorism training to disrupt their enemies. They can deploy electrified barbed wire for area denial, counter incoming enemy devices with their Active Defense System, and dazzle multiple foes with flash charges mounted on their G52-Tactical Shield.

While GS-Kommando operators pride themselves on using non-lethal force whenever possible, they are as capable on the battlefield as any spec ops group.

Customized Loadouts: Choose from a large arsenal of weapons, attachments, and devices to optimize the way you play. Combine any weapon with any faction, and unlock new options as you play to perfect your playstyle.

Factions: Factions are drawn from iconic Ubisoft worlds and represent distinct classes, each with unique abilities and ultras. Choose any character from any faction to assemble your team of six players. Change your faction at any point during play to adapt to your strategy.

Maps, Modes, and Mayhem: Play in a diverse range of 14 maps at launch across several different arena and linear modes including Zone Control, Escort, Occupy, and more. Fight in casual matches or climb the tiers in competitive ranked mode.

Publisher(s)
Ubisoft
Genre(s)
FPS