Ubisoft to Discontinue XDefiant with Layoffs
Ubisoft has announced that it will be shutting down its free-to-play shooter XDefiant, with servers remaining active until June 3, 2025. Players will no longer be able to download the game, and registrations will be closed. Despite the discontinuation, players can expect access to the third-season content in the near future. However, this decision comes with a cost, as nearly 300 employees, including 143 from the San Francisco office and 134 from Ubisoft’s Osaka and Sydney locations, will be laid off. The remaining team members from XDefiant will be reassigned to other roles within Ubisoft, according to chief studios and portfolio officer Marie-Sophie de Waubert.
Reasons for XDefiant’s Sunset
De Waubert explained in an internal notice on Ubisoft’s website, “Despite an encouraging start, the team’s passionate work, and a committed fan base, we’ve not been able to attract and retain enough players in the long run to compete at the level we aim for in the very demanding free-to-play FPS market.” The decision to sunset XDefiant was due to the game not meeting the required results for further significant investment.
Impact of XDefiant’s Closure
With the closure of XDefiant, Ubisoft is also shutting down its San Francisco and Osaka production studios. A “skeleton crew” will be retained to manage the game until its complete shutdown, as reported by Insider Gaming.
Refunds and Compensation
Players who purchased the $69.99 Ultimate Founder’s Pack for XDefiant will receive a full automatic refund. Additionally, all purchases made within the last 30 days will also be refunded. However, the Founder’s Pack and Founder’s Pack Elite are not eligible for refunds, as stated in a Ubisoft FAQ. Refunds are expected to be processed within eight weeks.
XDefiant’s Journey
XDefiant was released in May of this year following an announcement in 2021. It garnered initial success, reaching 1 million players shortly after its launch. However, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot admitted during an investor call that the game did not meet expectations, leading to the decision to sunset it.
In a recent earnings report, Ubisoft mentioned a decline in sales but an increase in player engagement. Despite the setbacks, games-as-a-service remains a core strategy for the company, with successful titles like Rainbow Six, The Crew, and For Honor. While XDefiant may be coming to an end, Ubisoft continues to focus on delivering engaging gaming experiences to its audience.