Ubisoft has announced the closure of its free-to-play shooter, XDefiant. Despite a promising start with over 10 million players in its initial launch, the game has struggled to maintain its momentum.
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The decision to shut down XDefiant comes as a surprise, especially considering Ubisoft’s initial optimism for the game. However, declining player numbers and challenges in maintaining player engagement ultimately led to the difficult decision.
Players who have already joined XDefiant will still be able to access the game and its features until June 3rd, 2025. Ubisoft has also committed to refunding purchases made for the Ultimate Founders Pack and recent in-game purchases.
Unfortunately, the closure of XDefiant will also result in job losses at Ubisoft’s San Francisco and Osaka studios. The company is working to support affected employees during this transition.
This decision highlights the challenges faced by game developers in maintaining long-term success in a competitive market. While XDefiant showed initial promise, it ultimately fell short of expectations.
