Ubisoft’s XDefiant, the arcade shooter that aimed to bring back old-school multiplayer fun, is officially shutting down. After hitting the ground running with a promising start earlier this year, the free-to-play title will sunset on June 3rd, 2025.
In a heartfelt message to fans, Executive Producer Mark Rubin confirmed the news, reflecting on the journey and thanking both the developers and the community for their dedication. “I am, of course, heartbroken to have to be writing this post,” Rubin said. “Yes, this game has been a personal passion for me for years, and yes, I know that not all challenges lead to victory.”
What’s next for XDefiant players?
Starting December 3rd, 2024, new downloads and player registrations are no longer available. However, Ubisoft is still planning to release the game’s third and final season soon (exact date TBD), and players who’ve already joined the action can continue playing until the servers shut down next June.
Ubisoft has also committed to refunding anyone who purchased the Ultimate Founder’s Pack, as well as those who made VC or DLC purchases in the last 30 days. Refunds will be processed automatically within eight weeks.
Rubin’s message shed light on the bold ambitions behind XDefiant. “A few years ago, Ubisoft and the SF Dev team embarked on a bold adventure to develop a new arcade shooter… Not only were we trying to shake up the genre by removing Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM) while bringing back a more ‘old-school’ arcade shooter experience, but we were also diving into the high-risk, high-reward realm of free-to-play.”
Despite amassing over 15 million players and breaking Ubisoft’s internal records for the fastest game to hit 5 million users, sustaining that momentum proved to be an uphill battle. Rubin explained, “Free-to-play, in particular, is a long journey… but unfortunately, the journey became too much to sensibly continue.”
Rubin also emphasised the relationship between the developers and players. “This ‘player-first’ mentality, along with respectful, non-toxic conversations between developers and players, has been one of the standout differences that made XDefiant so special,” he wrote.
“Your passion, creativity, and dedication have inspired us every step of the way,” he added.
A final thank you
While XDefiant’s journey might be ending, Rubin urged the community and industry to take away the lessons learned from the game’s unique approach to open communication and player-centric design.
For those who poured their time into XDefiant, the game will remain fully accessible until next June, with Season 3 providing one last hurrah. If you’re eligible for a refund, keep an eye on your account by January 28th, 2025.
As always, stay unruly.
