In today’s installment of “Oops, That Didn’t Work,” Ubisoft announced it will be discontinuing XDefiant, the free-to-play FPS that tried its best to exist but ultimately succumbed to that most unforgiving of realities: no one cared. Despite what Ubisoft is generously describing as an “encouraging start” and a “committed fan base” (both of whom are presumably in this room with us now), the game failed to attract and retain enough players to justify continued investment.
The announcement came alongside the news that XDefiant will limp along until June 3, 2025, with its servers staying up out of “appreciation” for the team’s hard work and the player base, which is reportedly large enough to fill a mid-sized coffee shop. Season 3 is still on the way, offering fans a chance to experience what could have been, if only the world had loved XDefiant the way it loved, well, literally any other game.
A Game of Questionable Distinction
Ubisoft had high hopes for XDefiant, positioning it as a contender in the ultra-competitive free-to-play FPS market. But while other games offered innovative mechanics, gripping narratives, or even just a recognizable identity, XDefiant offered…shooter gameplay. Guns? Check. Maps? Sure. Anything else? Uh, let’s get back to you on that.
Critics at the time couldn’t seem to figure out who the game was for. Fans of Ubisoft’s franchises? Maybe. People bored of Call of Duty? Possibly. Gamers who enjoy shooting at other gamers in an FPS where “Ubisoft” is the most distinctive branding element? Definitely.
“Sunsetting” with Style
Ubisoft’s press release described the decision to “sunset” the game, a euphemism that suggests XDefiant is being gently tucked into bed rather than abruptly kicked to the curb. New downloads, player registrations, and purchases are no longer available, but hey, if you’ve already been along for the ride, you’re welcome to hang out until the servers go dark.
The company is also shutting down its San Francisco and Osaka studios as part of the fallout, with over 270 employees affected. Ubisoft says it’s “committed to supporting” those impacted, which presumably means offering heartfelt LinkedIn endorsements and maybe some Ubisoft+ gift cards as a parting gift.
Lessons Learned, or Not
Ubisoft remains undeterred in its quest to conquer the Games-as-a-Service space. Despite XDefiant’s failure, the company assures everyone that it’s learned important lessons that will be applied to future projects. What those lessons are remains unclear—perhaps “make games people want to play” or “don’t compete with Call of Duty unless you have a better idea.”
While XDefiant may not have made a lasting impression on gamers, it will always hold a special place in Ubisoft’s heart as a noble experiment that showed them just how hard it is to make players care.
A Note from The Griefer Team
Not everyone here is dancing on XDefiant’s grave. One of our writers, who has chosen to remain anonymous, confessed to being a fan. “It wasn’t that bad,” they mumbled before quickly changing the subject. We respect their bravery during this difficult time and will be hosting a small memorial service near the coffee machine.
The Future of Ubisoft
Ubisoft insists it’s doubling down on growth, innovation, and creativity. Whether that means actually producing hits or simply repackaging the same ideas in shinier wrappers remains to be seen. In the meantime, let’s remember XDefiant for what it was: a game. A game that launched. And a game that will be quietly retired with fewer tears than a napkin at a barbecue.
So long, XDefiant. We hardly knew you.