Final Curtain Call: June 30, 2025
Indeed, the publisher has announced the shutdown of its online free-to-play shooter, XDefiant, just six months after its launch, along with the closure of two studios and staff cuts at a third. This setback comes shortly after the delayed release of the next Assassin’s Creed installment.
Launched in May 2024, XDefiant was a significant hope for Ubisoft in the online gaming arena. Despite its high aspirations, it failed to attract a broad audience or generate the expected revenue.
Since December 3, 2024, it has been impossible to download the game, create new accounts, or make purchases. The servers will be permanently turned off on June 3, 2025. For players, Ubisoft commits to refunding purchases made in the last 30 days within eight weeks. It’s also noted that any planned missions will be released before the total closure.
An Uncertain Future
About 300 developers from the teams involved in developing XDefiant will be reassigned to other projects within Ubisoft. However, this news is accompanied by the closure of the studios in San Francisco and Osaka, while the Sydney studio will face gradual downsizing. Around 277 employees will lose their jobs, with 143 in San Francisco and 134 between Osaka and Sydney.
Marie-Sophie de Waubert, head of Ubisoft’s studios, expressed her regret and praised the teams’ efforts. Mark Rubin, director of XDefiant, commented on the developers’ passion and dedication: Many free-to-play games take time to find their place and become profitable. It’s a long journey that Ubisoft and the teams working on the game were still willing to continue very recently. But alas, the journey has become too burdensome
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The closure of XDefiant and the associated layoffs highlight Ubisoft’s struggles to adapt in an increasingly competitive market, especially in the realm of online games and live services.
These drastic actions are aimed at refocusing the publisher’s efforts, but they also reflect the structural challenges Ubisoft must overcome to regain its stability.