The competitive first-person shooter (FPS) genre, dominated by giants like Call of Duty and Battlefield, is notoriously difficult to break into. While games like Valorant have carved out their own space, maintaining a large audience over time against established franchises is a significant challenge. Ubisoft’s XDefiant, launched earlier this year after extensive player testing, aimed to directly compete with Call of Duty, even being led by former Call of Duty producer Mark Rubin. However, its journey has been cut short.
XDefiant struggled, particularly against the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. After months of speculation, Ubisoft officially confirmed the game’s shutdown. Downloads are disabled, and servers will go offline in June 2025. Mark Rubin confirmed the news via Twitter, stating that the studio will complete the release of Season 3 content, but no further updates are planned.
xdefiant-shooter.jpgXDefiant gameplay screenshot showing characters in action.
Players who purchased the XDefiant Ultimate Founders Pack will receive full refunds, and those with in-game purchases within the last 30 days are also eligible for refunds, expected within the next eight weeks. Unfortunately, the closure also impacts Ubisoft San Francisco and Osaka, resulting in up to 177 layoffs. According to Stephen Totilo, half of the XDefiant team will be transitioned to other projects, and declining player numbers were cited as the primary reason for the game’s discontinuation.
This is a significant setback for Ubisoft. XDefiant was positioned not only as a Call of Duty rival, but also a key component of Ubisoft’s live service strategy alongside the long-running Rainbow Six Siege, now entering its tenth year. While the shutdown is disappointing, it’s not entirely surprising given the game’s struggles. The accessibility of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 through Xbox Game Pass likely exacerbated the situation. Although Ubisoft denied shutdown rumors in September, the possibility may have been under consideration for some time, with the final decision made recently. Some players criticized XDefiant at launch for feeling rushed, potentially to release ahead of this year’s Call of Duty and gain an early foothold in the FPS market.
This closure marks the end of XDefiant‘s brief lifespan, highlighting the challenges of competing in the crowded FPS arena. Despite its ambitious goals and experienced leadership, XDefiant ultimately couldn’t capture and retain a significant player base.
