Ubisoft’s XDefiant to Shut Down Permanently in June 2025

Ubisoft’s troubled shooter, XDefiant, will officially be sunsetted on June 3, 2025, marking the end of its short and tumultuous lifespan. Insider Gaming broke the news, revealing that the decision came during an internal all-hands meeting due to poor player engagement and insufficient revenue generation—issues Ubisoft has repeatedly cited in financial reports.

The closure comes as Ubisoft faces significant headwinds, including underwhelming launches like Star Wars Outlaws and delays for highly anticipated titles like Assassin’s Creed Shadows. XDefiant, which struggled to find a solid player base or drive meaningful microtransaction spending, became another burden for the publisher.

• Player Count and Spending Issues:
  Despite early interest, XDefiant failed to maintain an active player base, and engagement dropped sharply after launch. Low spending within the game sealed its fate.

• Impact on Ubisoft Studios:
  The shutdown will result in layoffs at Ubisoft’s San Francisco studio, with reports suggesting the studio will close entirely by February 2025. Some staff will receive severance, while others face uncertainty regarding relocation within the company.

Season 3 will be XDefiant's last full season, with only a skeleton team maintaining the game until its servers shut down. Ubisoft has announced a refund program for players:

• Ultimate Founder's Pack Refunds:
  Full refunds will be issued for players who purchased the Ultimate Founder's Pack.

• Recent Purchases:
  Players who made in-game purchases within the last 30 days will automatically receive refunds within eight weeks.

Starting today, new downloads and player registrations are no longer available, limiting access to those who had already played or downloaded the game.

Executive Producer Mark Rubin addressed the closure on X, emphasizing that the servers will remain active until June 3, 2025, allowing dedicated fans to enjoy the game for a final stretch. Rubin thanked the community for their support and outlined the steps for refunds and closure details on the official XDefiant website.

The closure of XDefiant is yet another sign of Ubisoft’s ongoing struggles to stabilize its portfolio amid a challenging gaming market. With upcoming titles like Assassin’s Creed Shadows under scrutiny, the company faces an uphill battle to regain player trust and financial stability.