Ubisoft Shuts Down Defiant

Ubisoft's free-to-play shooter, XDefiant, is shutting down. Servers will be deactivated on June 3, 2025. Learn more about this decision and its impact on players.

XDefiant's Server Shutdown in June 2025

Ubisoft has announced the closure of XDefiant servers, ending the game's run on June 3, 2025. The shutdown process begins December 3, 2024, with new downloads, registrations, and purchases disabled. Refunds for in-game purchases are planned. Full refunds will be issued for the Ultimate Founders Pack and in-game purchases made since November 3, 2024, with processing taking up to eight weeks (expected completion by January 28, 2025). Contact Ubisoft for assistance if a refund isn't received by then. Note that only the Ultimate Founders Pack is eligible for a refund; Founder's Pack and Founder's Pack Elite are not.

Reasons Behind XDefiant's Closure

Ubisoft's Chief Studios and Portfolio Officer, Marie-Sophie Waubert, explained the shutdown. Despite initial success and a dedicated player base, XDefiant failed to achieve the player retention needed to compete in the highly competitive free-to-play FPS market. The game's performance fell short of expectations for further investment.

Impact on XDefiant's Team and Studios

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 significant job losses (143 in San Francisco and approximately 134 in Osaka and Sydney combined). This follows previous layoffs in August 2024 at other Ubisoft studios. Ubisoft is providing severance packages and career assistance to affected employees.

A Positive Note Despite Closure

While XDefiant's closure is disappointing, it initially achieved impressive metrics, breaking Ubisoft's internal record with 5 million users shortly after its May 21, 2024 release and ultimately reaching 15 million players. Despite this, profitability was insufficient to justify continued support. Executive Producer Mark Rubin highlighted the positive player-developer relationship fostered by open and respectful communication.

Season 3 Release and Prior Reports

Despite the shutdown, Season 3 will launch as planned, although details are limited. Speculation points towards content from the Assassin's Creed franchise. A previous blog post detailing Season 3's content (new faction, weapons, maps, and modes) has been removed and replaced by the shutdown announcement. Earlier reports in August 2024 indicated a declining player base and concerns about the game's future; while initially denied, the shutdown announcement confirms these concerns. The release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 between Seasons 2 and 3 likely contributed to the decline in XDefiant's player base.