Ubisoft Pulls the Plug on XDEFIANT Only to Revive It with a Major Update

In a surprising turn of events, Ubisoft has announced the discontinuation of its game, X Defiant last month. However, before closing the doors for good, the game is receiving a massive update that includes three new maps, new progression features, and the addition of the Assassins faction.

While the decision to terminate X Defiant marks the end of an era, Ubisoft is set on providing players with a memorable final season. Season 3 will be the game's swan song, with servers remaining operational until June 3, 2025. However, new downloads, player registrations, and purchases have been halted.

In a gesture of goodwill, Ubisoft will issue refunds to Ultimate Founders Pack buyers and for purchases made since November 3, 2024. Players can expect credits within two months, though the game will not support offline play after the shutdown.

X Defiant, developed by Ubisoft San Francisco, had a brief but notable stint in the gaming world. Upon its release, it quickly amassed 15 million users on streaming platforms, surpassing the popularity of heavyweights like Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare 2. Despite this initial success, the game struggled to maintain momentum, ultimately receiving a Metacritic score of 67 out of 100.

The game's population dwindled, and its business model, heavily reliant on microtransactions, proved unsustainable. Even the recent addition of Versus AI Bots and the introduction of new features couldn't save it.

More info in this roasting of XDefiant and Ubisoft

As Ubisoft prepares to pull the plug, players reminisce about the game's potential and the fast-paced, fluid gameplay that initially drew them in.

Despite the disappointment, there is still a glimmer of hope for the future. As X Defiant bows out, its community can only hope that the lessons learned will pave the way for future successes.