Ubisoft has announced the closure of its free-to-play shooter, XDefiant, with servers slated to shut down in June 2025. This article details the shutdown process and its impact on players and Ubisoft's studios.

XDefiant Server Shutdown: June 2025

The "Sunset" Begins

Ubisoft will officially cease XDefiant's online operations on June 3, 2025. The shutdown process, commencing December 3, 2024, will prevent new players from accessing the game or purchasing in-game content. Ubisoft is committed to issuing refunds for eligible purchases.

Refunds will be issued for the Ultimate Founders Pack and in-game purchases (VC and DLCs) made since November 3, 2024. Processing may take up to eight weeks, with refunds expected by January 28, 2025. Players who haven't received their refunds by then should contact Ubisoft support. Note that only the Ultimate Founders Pack is eligible for a refund; the standard and Elite Founder's Packs are not.

Reasons Behind the Closure

Marie-Sophie Waubert, Ubisoft's Chief Studios and Portfolio Officer, explained that XDefiant failed to achieve the player base needed to thrive in the highly competitive free-to-play market. Despite initial success and dedicated fans, the game couldn't maintain sufficient player numbers to justify continued investment.

Impact on Ubisoft's Workforce

Approximately half of XDefiant's development 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 134 in Osaka and Sydney combined). This follows previous layoffs in August 2024 affecting other Ubisoft studios. Ubisoft is providing severance packages and career assistance to affected employees.

A Positive Reflection

While XDefiant's closure is disappointing, it initially achieved remarkable success, surpassing 5 million users shortly after launch and attracting 15 million players overall. However, its long-term performance didn't meet Ubisoft's financial targets. Executive Producer Mark Rubin acknowledged the challenges of the free-to-play market and expressed gratitude for the positive player community.

Season 3 Release and Prior Reports

Despite the shutdown, Season 3 will launch as planned, though details remain scarce. Speculation suggests potential Assassin's Creed content. The initial Year 1 roadmap, later removed, detailed plans for new factions, weapons, maps, and game modes for Season 3. However, access will be limited to players who acquired the game before December 3, 2024.

Earlier reports from August 2024 indicated declining player numbers and concerns about XDefiant's future. While initially denied, these reports proved accurate. The release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 between Seasons 2 and 3 may have contributed to XDefiant's struggles.