Ubisoft is starting the process of shutting down its free-to-play first-person shooting game XDefiant. The final farewell day for the game is on June 3, 2025. Along with the shutdown comes the closing of the Ubisoft San Francisco and Osaka studios. This has resulted in almost 300 people losing their jobs, another blow to the already troublesome video game industry. For fans and avid players of XDefiant, here’s exactly what the shutdown means in full.
Shutting Down For Good
On December 3, XDefiant entered the “sunsetting” stage, as confirmed by the social media team for the game. This means that no new purchases, downloads, or player registrations can happen during this time. On June 3, the game will be removed from all platforms. Along with that news, players who chose to dip into their funds to buy the Ultimate Founder’s Pack will get a full refund. Anyone who made any purchases involving XDefiant in the last 30 days will receive a full refund as well.
Until the fateful date, players will have access to all functionalities within XDefiant. According to the official FAQ related to the shutdown, players will still be able to use XCoins to redeem in-game content. Season 3 will also launch when it’s supposed to, but it will be the final update the game will have in terms of content. Instead of a fun-filled time, it will instead be a season of farewells.
The Reaction
Hello XDefiant Fans,
I am unfortunately here today to announce that XDefiant will be shutting down.
Starting today (December 3, 2024), new downloads and player registrations will no longer be available. We will still release our Season 3 content in the near future (exact date…
— Mark Rubin (@PixelsofMark) December 3, 2024
The announcement of the end times for XDefiant has been met with sadness from those who enjoyed making the game. This includes executive producer Mark Rubin. In a post on social media, he said the news of the impending shutdown is heartbreaking. He also recognized and expressed his concern for every person who helped make the game possible. Towards the end of the message, he expressed how proud he is of the healthy discussions XDefiant promoted. He states, “This “player-first” mentality, along with respectful, non-toxic conversations between developers and players, has been one of the standout differences that made XDefiant so special.”
Of course, Rubin also states just how thankful he is for the player base. Just like with any game, it couldn’t have been possible without the ones who were able to sink hours upon hours into it. Rubin said, “To our players, THANK YOU! From the bottom of my heart, I want to express my deepest gratitude for the incredible community that has grown around the game. Your passion, creativity, and dedication have inspired us every step of the way.”
Fan Response
Just like Rubin, fans of the game are expressing just how upset they are about the inevitable end to XDefiant. Under the goodbye posts on social media, sadness is easy to spot. Fans are sharing how much they have loved playing the game and how heartbroken they are that it will be shutting down. A Ubisoft partner who calls herself the “#1 female XDefiant player,” MatchaBabe00, is among those who are saying their goodbyes. In her reply, she said, “Over the course of its time, the game brought me unexpected memories, immense joy, and a sense of achievement. I’m deeply grateful for the supportive and passionate community that made it all the more special.”
Of course, there are ones who are stating how they expected the game’s downfall. That happens with just about any game that reaches its end. However, for the players who joined the community that XDefiant created, it is truly a tragic time. It appears that the only bright side of the situation is that players still have some time to say their goodbyes. There are still about six months to enjoy the first-person shooter while it’s still around.
