Ubisoft’s free-to-play arena shooter, XDefiant, is shutting down. In an announcement today, the studio revealed that the game will begin its sunset process effective immediately, with a complete shutdown planned for June 3, 2025.
New downloads and player registrations have been halted, but existing players can continue to enjoy the game until the closure date. Season 3 content is still expected to launch in the coming months.
Executive Producer Mark Rubin shared a heartfelt message with the community, acknowledging the game’s ambitious goals and expressing gratitude for the passionate player base. He highlighted the “player-first” mentality that drove the development of XDefiant, emphasizing open communication and respectful dialogue between developers and players.
“A few years ago, Ubisoft and the SF Dev team embarked on a bold adventure to develop a new arcade shooter called XDefiant,” Rubin stated. “It was from the start, an incredible challenge. Not only were we trying to shake up the genre by removing Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM) while bringing back a more “old-school” arcade shooter experience, but we were also diving into the high-risk, high-reward realm of free-to-play.”
Despite reaching over 15 million players, XDefiant ultimately struggled to maintain a sustainable player base in the competitive free-to-play market.
As a gesture of goodwill, Ubisoft is offering full refunds for players who purchased the Ultimate Founders Pack. Additionally, any VC and DLC purchases made since November 3, 2024, will also be fully refunded. The refund process is expected to take up to 8 weeks.
While the news of XDefiant’s closure comes as a disappointment to many, the development team remains committed to supporting the community throughout the sunsetting process. Players can find more information and FAQs on the official XDefiant website.
