XDefiant Cancelled: Ubisoft Axes Game Amid Major Staff Cuts

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By Gaming News
4 December 2024 no comments

XDefiant, the live-service shooter launched in May, is shut down as Ubisoft closes multiple studios and lays off hundreds of staff. Announcing the game’s cancelation in a blog post, Ubisoft thanked the teams and fans for “continued dedication.”

XDefiant Cancelled: Ubisoft Layoffs Announced

XDefiant, Ubisoft’s ambitious free-to-play FPS, has been shut down by Ubisoft, bringing the shooter to an end after only six months. In a blog post, Ubisoft’s Marie-Sophie de Waubert put the decision down to the failure to attract new players.

As a result of the game’s cancelation, Ubisoft is preventing new downloads, player registrations, and purchases. Season three will still launch, with XDefiant’s servers going offline permanently on June 3, 2025. Unfortunately, XDefiant’s cancelation comes with the closure of two studios and severe staff cuts from a third, resulting in 277 staff laid off.

Ubisoft’s Layoffs and Corporate Restructuring

The cancellation of XDefiant follows a tough 2024 for Ubisoft, with the company reeling from declining share prices due to multiple game delays and underperforming titles. Recent releases like Star Wars: Outlaws have only made things worse, forcing Ubisoft into restructuring and restrategizing.

Amid continued drops in their shares, Ubisoft revealed layoffs of 45 employees from Ubisoft San Francisco and Red Storm Entertainment in August, following the cancelation of The Division: Heartland and poor fan reaction to the release of XDefiant.

In September, Ubisoft reversed its decision not to publish games on Steam. With the company needing the extra revenue stream, Star Wars: Outlaws was the first new Ubisoft game to launch on Valve’s platform, with Assassin’s Creed Shadows coming on day one in 2025.

As part of Ubisoft’s continued restructuring, the company has announced another round of layoffs. This time, San Francisco and Osaka production studios are closing down, and Sydney “ramped down,” with 143 and 134 people affected.

What’s Next for Ubisoft

2025 will be a significant year for Ubisoft, with the developer and publisher committed to “radically” evolving its production and business practices. There is also the continuing rumor that Tencent is considering acquiring Ubisoft.

Despite the cut of nearly 300 staff and the shutting down of XDefiant on June 3, 2025, fans can still look forward to Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The upcoming action-adventure game is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on February 14, 2025.

Conclusion

What are your thoughts on XDefiant’s cancellation and Ubisoft’s current state? Let us know in the comments below.

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Fueled by a passion for gaming and the ever-evolving world of gaming news, Daniel loves connecting with seasoned and new players to bring games to life on the page, exploring their narratives and gaming trends. A self-published fiction and fantasy author, Daniel has nearly 20 years of experience writing gaming news and a love for storytelling that drives his enthusiasm to deliver breaking news, in-depth analysis, and industry innovations. You will find him in-game as "Windfell."

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