In a move that some might call inevitable, Ubisoft’s first-person shooter XDefiant is officially shutting down. Once hailed as a potential “Call of Duty Killer,” the game will cease operations on June 3, 2025, marking the end of its ambitious journey.
The announcement came via a statement on Ubisoft’s official website on December 3, accompanied by a message from the game’s executive producer, Mark Rubin. As of now, downloads and new player registrations have been disabled, but existing players can continue enjoying the game until the shutdown date next year.
The Journey of XDefiant: What Went Wrong?
XDefiant launched in May 2024 after its initial announcement in July 2021. Following a series of closed betas, the game eventually dropped its association with the Tom Clancy brand, becoming a Ubisoft original. Early reception was promising, with the game reaching an impressive three million players shortly after its release.
Despite its strong start, XDefiant faced challenges that hindered its growth. Server issues plagued gameplay, and the game received mixed reviews from players and critics. Although it achieved a peak of 11 million players during its second live-service season, player numbers began to decline rapidly in the months that followed.
The release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 in October 2024 dealt a significant blow to XDefiant, siphoning away much of its player base. With CoD’s latest installment delivering a standout experience, including a hugely popular Zombies mode, XDefiant struggled to maintain relevance in the crowded FPS market.
The Challenges of a Free-to-Play Model
In his statement, Mark Rubin highlighted some of the difficulties faced by XDefiant, particularly its free-to-play model:
“Many free-to-play games take a long time to find their footing and become profitable. It’s a long journey that Ubisoft and the teams working on the game were prepared to make until very recently. But unfortunately, the journey became too much to sensibly continue.”
XDefiant was also criticised for its reliance on microtransactions and battle pass pricing, which some players felt were excessive. These elements, coupled with technical issues and dwindling player engagement, ultimately sealed the game’s fate.
A Look Ahead: Searching for the Next “CoD Killer”
The closure of XDefiant marks another failed attempt to dethrone Call of Duty as the reigning king of first-person shooters. With Black Ops 6 currently thriving, thanks to its polished gameplay and beloved Zombies mode, the gaming community is left wondering when a true competitor will emerge.
For those seeking an alternative to Call of Duty, Delta Force—set to release this week—has garnered some attention. However, dethroning CoD remains a monumental task, and it may be some time before the gaming industry sees a genuine “CoD Killer.”
Summary
XDefiant’s shutdown reminds us of how challenging it is to compete in the highly competitive FPS market. While the game showed early promise, a combination of technical issues, monetisation challenges, and stiff competition from Call of Duty proved too much to overcome.
As the gaming community bids farewell to XDefiant, players and developers alike will keep their eyes on future contenders aiming to redefine the FPS genre. Until then, Call of Duty remains the undisputed champion. Find further updates on Call of Duty here.
