Ubisoft's Free-to-Play Shooter 'xDefiant' Closed

Ubisoft's free-to-play shooter, XDefiant, is officially closing its servers in June 2025. This announcement follows a period of declining player numbers and ultimately, the game's failure to meet Ubisoft's financial expectations within the competitive F2P market. This article details the shutdown process and its impact.

XDefiant Server Shutdown: June 2025

The "Sunset" Begins

Ubisoft confirmed the XDefiant server closure on June 3rd, 2025. The shutdown process, dubbed "sunset," started December 3rd, 2024, halting new player registrations, downloads, and in-game purchases. Ubisoft is committed to issuing refunds for eligible purchases.

"Players who purchased the Ultimate Founders Pack will receive a full refund. Refunds for VC and DLC purchases made since November 3rd, 2024, will also be processed. Please allow up to 8 weeks for processing; refunds should be completed by January 28th, 2025. Contact Ubisoft support for assistance after this date." Note that only the Ultimate Founder's Pack is eligible for a refund.

Reasons Behind the Closure

Marie-Sophie Waubert, Ubisoft's Chief Studios and Portfolio Officer, explained that XDefiant failed to maintain a sustainable player base in the highly competitive F2P shooter landscape. Despite initial success and dedicated players, the game couldn't attract and retain enough players to justify further investment.

Studio Closures and Team Transitions

The shutdown will lead to significant restructuring within Ubisoft. Approximately half of the XDefiant team will transition to other roles within the company, while the remaining team members will depart. This includes the closure of the San Francisco and Osaka studios, and a significant reduction in staff at the Sydney location, resulting in a total of approximately 277 job losses. These closures follow previous layoffs in August 2024 affecting Ubisoft studios in San Francisco, North Carolina, and Toronto. Ubisoft has committed to supporting affected employees with severance packages and career assistance.

A Bittersweet Farewell

Despite initially exceeding 5 million users shortly after its May 21st, 2024 release, and reaching a total of 15 million players, XDefiant's long-term performance wasn't sufficient to sustain its operation. Executive Producer Mark Rubin acknowledged the challenges of the F2P market and the ultimately unsustainable path the game was on, despite initial hopes. He expressed gratitude for the community and highlighted the positive, respectful interactions between players and developers.

Season 3 Release and Prior Reports

While the servers are shutting down, Season 3 will still launch as planned. While details are scarce, speculation points to Assassin's Creed-themed content. This contrasts with an earlier Insider Gaming report (August 29th, 2024) that suggested XDefiant's player base was dwindling, a claim denied at the time by Rubin. The release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 between Seasons 2 and 3 likely impacted XDefiant's player retention.