Ubisoft Responds to Claims That XDefiant is 'Dying'

Summary

XDefiant's executive producer is refuting claims that the free-to-play FPS title is struggling.
Ubisoft has revealed a detailed roadmap for the game's first year on the market.
Season 2 of XDefiant will begin on September 24 and will introduce a new faction, new mode, and several new maps and weapons.

Ubisoft is pushing back against claims that its newest multiplayer FPS XDefiant isn't doing well. XDefiant recently revealed its second season, which is set to go live next week and will bring an all-new faction, the Highwaymen from Far Cry 5's standalone sequel Far Cry New Dawn. Season 2 will also introduce the new Search and Destroy-like Bomb mode, as well as new maps and weapons.

Last month, an insider claimed that XDefiant may be in trouble. Due to diminishing player counts and player spending since its impressive launch in May 2024, the report suggested that Ubisoft was planning to give the XDefiant team until Season 3 to turn things around or risk support being pulled from the game. Between layoffs that impacted Ubisoft San Francisco earlier in the year and the release of competitor Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 next month, pressure seems to be mounting for XDefiant as it heads into its second season.

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By Kyle Knight

XDefiant's situation may not that dire, as Ubisoft assures fans that the game is still in solid shape. In a new blog post laying out XDefiant's Year 1 roadmap, the game's executive producer, Mark Rubin, pushed back on the idea that the game is struggling. "Is the game dying? No, the game is absolutely not dying. We know there are things we need to improve like Netcode/Hitreg and adding more content to progression, but the game is doing well," he wrote. Rubin went more into detail on the improvements Ubisoft San Francisco is planning to bring to XDefiant, namely the game's netcode and hit registration, which have a direct impact on the feel of the game.

Ubisoft's Mark Rubin Insists XDefiant Is Doing Well

Because XDefiant is only available on PC via the Ubisoft store and not on Steam, there's no way for people to know how many concurrent players XDefiant has, making it more difficult to gauge how well the game is really doing. With that said, last month's insider report mentioned that XDefiant is hovering around 20,000 concurrent players across all platforms, but if that number has changed is something only known only by Ubisoft. The game's unavailability on Steam may be directly contributing to the game's alleged player count woes. As for the netcode improvements mentioned by Rubin, the Year 1 roadmap doesn't indicate when players can expect the fix, leading some to believe it will be quietly updated whenever it's ready.

No, the game is absolutely not dying. We know there are things we need to improve like Netcode/Hitreg and adding more content to progression, but the game is doing well.

Season 2 of XDefiant is ready to go live on September 24. With it, fans can expect to enjoy faster battle pass progression and improvements to mantling, footsteps, and player collision among other quality-of-life changes. Hopefully, the arrival of Far Cry New Dawn' s Highwaymen as part of Season 2 will give XDefiant the player boost it needs as it approaches Season 3 by the end of 2024.

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OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Avg: 70 /100 Critics Rec: 51%

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Released: May 21, 2024
ESRB: T For Teen due to Mild Language, Violence
Developer(s): Ubisoft San Francisco
Publisher(s): Ubisoft
Engine: Snowdrop
Multiplayer: Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer
Cross-Platform Play: PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S

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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.

Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Genre(s): FPS
PS Plus Availability: N/A