Ubisoft to Shut Down XDefiant in June 2025, Lay Off 177 Employees

Dec 3, 2024, 11:48 PM

Ubisoft has announced the discontinuation of its free-to-play shooter game, XDefiant, with servers set to close in June 2025. The decision comes as part of broader layoffs affecting 177 employees and the closure of Ubisoft's production studios in San Francisco and Osaka. XDefiant, which aimed to challenge Call of Duty in the competitive shooter market, has struggled to maintain player interest despite efforts to revive the game. Ubisoft is offering refunds to players for purchases made within the game. The shutdown marks the end of a challenging journey for XDefiant, which had been touted as a potential 'COD killer' but failed to sustain its live-service model.