Ubisoft Addresses Concerns About XDefiant's Decline

Ubisoft has addressed rumors suggesting that their latest multiplayer first-person shooter, XDefiant, is in trouble. As the game gears up for its second season, set to launch next week, it will introduce the Highwaymen faction from Far Cry New Dawn, the standalone sequel to Far Cry 5. Season 2 will also bring fresh content, including a new Bomb mode inspired by Search and Destroy, along with additional maps and weapons.

Speculation about XDefiant’s future began last month when an insider report claimed the game was facing difficulties. The report suggested that declining player numbers and lower player spending, following a successful launch in May 2024, were causing concerns. It also hinted that Ubisoft might pull support for the game if it doesn't turn things around by the time Season 3 arrives. Further adding to the pressure are recent layoffs that affected Ubisoft’s San Francisco studio and the looming release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, a major competitor, next month.

However, Ubisoft has reassured fans that the situation isn’t as grim as some might think. In a recent blog post detailing XDefiant's Year 1 roadmap, the game’s executive producer, Mark Rubin, dismissed claims that the game is on a downward spiral. "Is the game dying? No, the game is absolutely not dying. We know there are things we need to improve like Netcode/Hitreg and adding more content to progression, but the game is doing well," Rubin stated.

Rubin also emphasized the improvements Ubisoft San Francisco is working on, specifically focusing on the game's netcode and hit registration, which are critical to the game's overall experience.

Ubisoft’s Mark Rubin Stands by XDefiant’s Performance

One factor contributing to the uncertainty around XDefiant's success is the game's absence from Steam, which makes it harder to track the number of active players. Currently, XDefiant is only available on PC via the Ubisoft store. According to the insider report, the game had around 20,000 concurrent players across all platforms as of last month, but it’s unclear whether that figure has changed since then—something only Ubisoft knows for certain.

The decision not to release XDefiant on Steam could be impacting the game's player count. Meanwhile, the anticipated netcode updates Rubin mentioned have no specific timeline in the Year 1 roadmap, leading some players to speculate that these fixes will be quietly implemented when ready.

As XDefiant prepares for the launch of its second season on September 24, fans can look forward to faster battle pass progression and enhancements to mantling, footsteps, and player collision, among other quality-of-life improvements. With the addition of the Highwaymen from Far Cry New Dawn, Season 2 may provide the player surge XDefiant needs to build momentum heading into Season 3 by the end of 2024.