There have been recent rumors about Ubisoft’s first-person shooter, XDefiant, suggesting that the game might be shut down after its fourth season. With these rumors, people are wondering if the game will join the ranks of the studio’s other recent underperforming titles.
Mark Rubin, the game’s executive producer, recently addressed these concerns head-on. He clarified that despite the drop in player engagement, there is no intention of pulling the plug. Instead, the team is focused on improving the game’s technical aspects and preparing for future content releases.
The Reports of XDefiant‘s Death Were Greatly Exaggerated
Rumors about XDefiant’s potential shutdown started after a social media post speculated that Ubisoft might pull the plug on the game if player numbers didn’t improve. Rubin quickly debunked these claims, stating that discussions for Year 2 of the game are already in motion.
XDefiant is alredy Dead
Ubisoft research team is actively asking their tester to have another In-House test session and give/repeat their feedback. Multiple sources told that its possible that the game will end its Support after season 4 if they cant get enough players. pic.twitter.com/k77JMD6a8i
— Shaun Weber (@just4leaks2) October 14, 2024
Rubin noted that one of the primary reasons for the decline in player engagement has been the lack of aggressive marketing since the game’s launch. He explained that the studio has intentionally held back on major promotional efforts to give the dev team time to improve the game.
To be crystal clear there are NO plans to shut down after season 4. I’ve literally been in meetings as of last week to discuss our Year 2 plans. But, right now we are super focused on improving the technical experience (which includes netcode) and adding more content for Seasons…
— Mark Rubin (@PixelsofMark) October 15, 2024
While the game was initially dubbed a potential “Call of Duty killer,” the game’s trajectory has been rocky. Launched earlier in 2024 after a series of delays, the free-to-play shooter initially showed promise. However, the game had matchmaking issues and concerns about content variety that have led to frustration from the player base.
If the game was actually shut down, fans would quickly compare it to the likes of Concord, Sony’s attempt at a live service title that didn’t even last two weeks before shutting down. It also didn’t help that Concord had a price tag for a live service title in a crowded market.
So while XDefiant has faced its share of struggles, Rubin’s transparency and the promise of ongoing support suggest there is still hope for the shooter.
But Where Is The Game Going Now?
As XDefiant enters its second season of live content, which began in September, Ubisoft has laid out plans for two more seasons to follow. Rubin hinted at more content for player progression.
Here it is – an update on our Year 1 plans! 🎉
Read our latest article to read about our Year 1 roadmap and discussion on netcode/hitreg
➡ https://t.co/cjuzxaw4sT pic.twitter.com/pWe2G2oMaE— XDefiant (@PlayXDefiant) September 17, 2024
The studio has had a tough year, with several high-profile delays and underwhelming launches affecting its market performance. Games like Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Star Wars Outlaws have seen disappointing starts, which has led to a sharp drop in the company’s market value.
With Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 set to release soon, XDefiant will be up against one of the most anticipated FPS games in recent years. The studio will need to prove that XDefiant can stand out in a crowded market, especially against a franchise with such a massive following.
Whether the game can successfully overcome its current hurdles remains to be seen, but Rubin’s confidence in the game’s long-term prospects suggests that the team is prepared to give the shooter every chance to succeed.
Do you think the game can make a comeback? Let us know in the comments!
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
