XDefiant, Ubisoft’s free-to-play first-person shooter, will officially shut down on June 3, 2025, marking a short-lived run of just over six months since its launch. The decision accompanies the closure of Ubisoft’s San Francisco and Osaka studios, affecting approximately 277 employees globally, and reductions in staff at the Sydney office.
Challenges in a Competitive Market
Starting December 3, 2024, new downloads, player registrations, and purchases for XDefiant were disabled. While the game’s servers remain operational for current players, the decision to shut down stems from difficulties in retaining players in the highly competitive FPS market.
Marie-Sophie de Waubert, Ubisoft’s Chief Studios Officer, commented on the closure: “Despite 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.”
Studio Closures and Job Losses
The closure of Ubisoft San Francisco and Osaka studios has led to job losses, with reports indicating 170–180 employees from the two studios being laid off. According to Stephen Totilo, approximately half of the XDefiant development team will transition to other Ubisoft projects.
Refunds and Final Updates
Mark Rubin, XDefiant’s executive producer, expressed his disappointment with the decision: “This isn’t the outcome we envisioned, but I want to personally thank everyone who supported us throughout this journey.”
Rubin also confirmed that refunds for recent in-game purchases and the Ultimate Founders Pack would be processed automatically within eight weeks. Players will still have access to Season 3 content before the servers shut down in mid-2025.
XDefiant’s Short Journey and Future Implications
Initially touted as a potential competitor to Call of Duty, XDefiant garnered over 15 million players during its early days but faced challenges maintaining its player base. Its struggles reflect broader difficulties for live-service games in a saturated market, with Ubisoft also sunsetting its Concord title.
The company has pledged to use lessons from this experience to refine its approach to live-service games.
For further details on refunds and the game’s closure process, visit the official XDefiant FAQ.
