Summary
A new report indicates that low player counts may land Ubisoft’sXDefiantin serious trouble.XDefiantis currently in its first season, which added the GS Kommando faction fromRainbow Six Siege,the classic Capture the Flag game mode, and three new maps in Clubhouse, Daytona, and Rockefeller.
Having launched back in May, Ubisoft’s free-to-playCall of Dutycompetitor initially enjoyed record-breaking results, garnering over a million players within its first three hours live and eight million players in its first week. Mixing and matchingdifferent Ubisoft franchises,likeSplinter Cell,Watch Dogs,Ghost Recon,and others certainly drew a lot of attention to the game, which impressed many with its polished gunplay and engaging map design. Though, it seemsXDefiant’s numbers have recently taken a turn for the worst during its still ongoing first season.
According to anew report from Insider Gaming, the future ofXDefiantseems grim. In speaking with direct sources at Ubisoft San Fransisco, Henderson reports thatXDefiant’s player count and player spending numbers have been steadily declining after its impressive May launch, as the game is currently hovering around 20,000 concurrent players across all platforms. Furthermore, Ubisoft leadership is reportedly giving its San Francisco studio until Season 3 to improveXDefiant’s player count before potentially cutting off support for the game. Going by Season 1’s current duration,XDefiant’s third season should be expected to begin in either late December or early January 2025, right around the holidays.
XDefiant Has Until Season 3 To Boost Its Player Count
Ubisoft San Francisco has already endured a lot of turmoil this year between a seemingly unsuccessful toxic work culture investigation and recent layoffs which directly affected theXDefiantteam.XDefiant’s dire player count situation only puts more pressure on Ubisoft SF, and with theCall of DutyjuggernautBlack Ops 6landing in October, and another popular multiplayer shooter inMarvel Rivalslaunching in early December, it’ll likely be difficult for Ubisoft San Francisco to pull lapsed and new players back intoXDefiantcome the end of the year.
It’s natural for any new multiplayer game to lose players after its opening few weeks. However,XDefiant’s extreme player count issues were likely compounded by other big multiplayer FPS titles that have been released this summer, likeValorant’s arrival on consoles. Hopefully,XDefiantis able to pull in enough players to have its support continued.
As the first season ofXDefiantwinds down next month, Season 2 is expected to begin on September 24, according to the game’s current battle pass timer. The new season should include the arrival of a new Ubisoft faction, new maps, modes, weapons, and more.XDefiantwill likely host another XDefbriefat some point next month to unveil everything new in Season 2.
XDefiant
XDefiant is a free-to-play, first-person online arena shooter where you compete in fast-paced clashes. With cross-play available at launch, you will be able to play with friends on a variety of platforms.Season 1 introduces the Team Rainbow operators of GS-Kommando leveraging their counter-terrorism training to disrupt their enemies. They can deploy electrified barbed wire for area denial, counter incoming enemy devices with their Active Defense System, and dazzle multiple foes with flash charges mounted on their G52-Tactical Shield.While GS-Kommando operators pride themselves on using non-lethal force whenever possible, they are as capable on the battlefield as any spec ops group.Customized Loadouts: Choose from a large arsenal of weapons, attachments, and devices to optimize the way you play. Combine any weapon with any faction, and unlock new options as you play to perfect your playstyle.Factions: Factions are drawn from iconic Ubisoft worlds and represent distinct classes, each with unique abilities and ultras. Choose any character from any faction to assemble your team of six players. Change your faction at any point during play to adapt to your strategy.Maps, Modes, and Mayhem: Play in a diverse range of 14 maps at launch across several different arena and linear modes including Zone Control, Escort, Occupy, and more. Fight in casual matches or climb the tiers in competitive ranked mode.
