After an ambitious launch earlier this year, Ubisoft has decided to end the development of XDefiant, its free-to-play shooter. The game, which had been positioned as a strong contender in the competitive shooter market, will no longer accept new players and will shut down its servers by June 3, 2025. This news echoes the fate of Ubisoft’s earlier title, Hyper Scape, which also faced a rapid decline after its initial hype.
XDefiant had a strong start but struggled to maintain players
Despite initial delays, XDefiant seemed poised for success. Ubisoft reported that the game reached over 10 million players within the first two weeks of its launch, surpassing expectations. The developer attributed this success to “strong acquisition and impressive average revenue per session day.”
However, the momentum didn’t last. By autumn, reports began to surface about declining player numbers. Insider Gaming revealed that concurrent players across all platforms had dropped below 20,000, sparking rumours about the game’s uncertain future.
Ubisoft confirmed that while the game will remain available for existing players until June 2025, no new accounts can be created after December 3, 2024. Players can still access progression, events, rewards, and achievements. Ubisoft also intends to release the planned Season 3 content before the game’s final closure.
Refunds and job losses impact Ubisoft’s studios
Ubisoft is offering refunds to players who invested money in the game. Those who purchased the Ultimate Founders Pack or virtual currency and downloadable content (DLC) within the last month will be reimbursed. This decision aims to soften the blow for dedicated fans who supported the game financially.
However, the game’s shutdown also brings unfortunate consequences for Ubisoft’s workforce. The company announced that it will close its production studios in San Francisco and Osaka while scaling down operations in Sydney. This restructuring will affect 143 San Francisco employees and 134 staff members across Osaka and Sydney. Ubisoft described these layoffs as “difficult consequences” of the decision to sunset XDefiant.
This marks another challenging chapter for Ubisoft as it continues to adjust its game portfolio and adapt to the ever-changing gaming landscape.
What’s next for Ubisoft?
As XDefiant joins other projects that didn’t meet expectations, Ubisoft faces questions about its strategy for future titles. The company remains a significant player in the gaming industry, but setbacks like these highlight the challenges of sustaining live-service games in a competitive market.
For now, XDefiant’s existing players can enjoy their final months while affected employees and fans wait to see how Ubisoft navigates these turbulent times.
