Ubisoft's Valorant Rival, Defiant, Shuts Down

Ubisoft's free-to-play shooter, XDefiant, is facing closure. Server shutdown is slated for June 2025. This article details the reasons behind this unexpected announcement and its impact on players.

XDefiant Servers to Shut Down June 2025

The "Sunset" Begins

Ubisoft confirmed the closure of XDefiant servers on June 3, 2025. The shutdown process, commencing December 3, 2024, will prevent new players from accessing the game or purchasing content. Refunds for in-game purchases are underway.

Ubisoft states: "Players who purchased the Ultimate Founders Pack will receive a full refund. Refunds for VC and DLC purchases made since November 3, 2024, will also be issued. Processing may take up to 8 weeks."

Refunds are expected by January 28, 2025. Players without refunds by this date should contact Ubisoft. Note that only the Ultimate Founders Pack is eligible for a refund.

Reasons Behind the Closure

Marie-Sophie Waubert, Ubisoft's Chief Studios and Portfolio Officer, explained that XDefiant failed to meet player retention targets within the fiercely competitive free-to-play market. The game's performance fell short of justifying further investment.

Team Transitions and Studio Closures

Approximately half of XDefiant's team will transition to other roles within Ubisoft. However, the San Francisco and Osaka studios will close, and the Sydney studio will downsize, resulting in significant job losses.

This follows previous layoffs in August 2024 affecting Ubisoft studios in San Francisco, North Carolina, and Toronto. Ubisoft is providing severance and career support to affected employees.

A Positive Reflection

Despite a promising start (5 million users shortly after its May 21, 2024 release, and 15 million total players), XDefiant's long-term performance didn't meet Ubisoft's financial expectations. Executive Producer Mark Rubin acknowledged the challenges of the free-to-play market and expressed gratitude to the community for their positive engagement.

Season 3 Release Despite Shutdown

Despite the closure, Season 3 will launch as planned, although details remain scarce. Speculation points to Assassin's Creed-themed content. However, access will be limited to players who acquired the game before December 3, 2024. A previous blog post detailing Season 3 has been removed from the website.

Early Reports of XDefiant's Struggles

Insider Gaming reported on August 29, 2024, citing low player numbers as a contributing factor to XDefiant's potential demise. While initially denied, this report proved accurate. The release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 likely further impacted XDefiant's player base.