xDefiant players taken aback by FPS game’s shutdown – “gutted is an understatement”

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As a long-time gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a pang of sadness upon hearing about xDefiant‘s impending shutdown. I remember the excitement that surrounded its launch, the promise of a fresh take on the first-person shooter genre, and the hope it would dethrone the current king, Call of Duty.

Ubisoft’s attempt at creating a Call of Duty competitor, xDefiant, has officially announced its closure in June 2025. Earlier this year, there were whispers about its shutdown, but Ubisoft had swiftly dismissed them. However, it appears that the free-to-play first-person shooter game will indeed be deactivated next year.

Fans of the game have united following the unexpected demise of their favorite game. Some are initiating petitions with the aim of preserving it, while others are merely voicing their disappointment at its sudden shutdown.

xDefiant fans are upset, angry and confused

After the game was announced, numerous enthusiasts flocked to the xDefiant subreddit to share their thoughts. Some fans agreed with the game’s shutdown due to concerns such as limited gameplay options and so forth, but a group of others felt that the game had been undervalued.

The news has left me utterly dismayed, far more than just disappointed,” one player wrote after the announcement. “I can hardly accept that this is truly taking place. We’ve had some great times together.

XDefiant is shutting down. Absolutely gutted is an understatement. Can’t believe it’s actually happening. It’s been a good ride, Fellas.
byu/Connnooorrr inXDefiant

Another expressed disappointment, saying that Ubisoft had the potential to create something exceptional. However, it seems their efforts have gone awry, allowing Call of Duty to maintain its dominance. A release on Steam might salvage the situation, but with Ubisoft’s reputation, that remains uncertain.

The initially disliked first-person shooter was intensely marketed prior to its release as a game lacking skill-based multiplayer matching at launch. Nevertheless, even though many online opinions were critical of the matchmaking system, it seemed to deter a significant number of gamers from playing.

Initially, Defiant wasn’t a poor game upon its release, but it certainly had room for improvement, which it managed to do with subsequent updates. However, as our May 2024 review pointed out, it was essentially a clone of other shooter games, struggling to stand out among more successful titles in the same genre.

Although XDefiant offers multiple factions and detailed maps, our reviewer, Anthony Terrace, pointed out that its gunfights are disappointing due to a missing sense of unique identity and slow weapon advancement. He further noted that aside from providing an optional skill-based matchmaking system, the game feels like a replica of shooters from the past ten years, preferring nostalgia over innovation.

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2024-12-04 14:11