Heartbroken XDefiant fans launch petition in bid to save game

by

As a long-time fan who has spent countless hours battling it out in XDefiant‘s virtual arenas, I can’t help but feel a pang of sadness as I read about its impending closure. I remember the thrill of those early days, the excitement of discovering a new game that felt like a breath of fresh air in the sea of shooters out there. The old-school mechanics and the lack of skill-based matchmaking were a refreshing change, creating an experience that was both challenging and rewarding.

Ubisoft confirmed that they will be closing XDefiant after a significant decrease in player numbers and persistent issues causing players to leave the game. However, for those who want to experience it one more time, there is still some time left before it shuts down.

Initially, Ubisoft’s free-to-play arena shooter made a strong debut, but it soon struggled for attention amidst the popularity of Call Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and later Black Ops 6. In an attempt to prevent the game from fading away completely, one dedicated fan has initiated a petition, asking the developers to keep the game active.

Save XDefiant petition gains traction

Not long after Ubisoft decided to shut down XDefiant, fan Nyte Falll started a petition with the goal of preserving the game’s existence. The petition states: “We are seeking help to prevent XDefiant, a beloved online platform, from being permanently taken offline. It’s more than just fun; it’s a way for many players to connect, make new friends, and build lasting memories.

As I write this on December 4, 2024, the petition has amassed a total of 201 signatures, with fans persistently supporting the cause to persuade Ubisoft to rethink their decision. The number of signatures is steadily increasing, so we’ll have to keep our fingers crossed and see if it will be sufficient to convince the developer to postpone the server shutdown beyond its scheduled date in June 2025.

In addition to shutting down XDefiant, Ubisoft has terminated 277 employees following the closures of its studios in San Francisco and Osaka. This unfortunate event marks a stormy end to the year 2024. Not only did XDefiant fail to gain traction, but the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows was postponed, and The Division: Heartland, another free-to-play shooter, was also canceled.

Will the petition work?

Despite the petition gaining more signatures day by day, there’s a small chance that it will prevent Ubisoft from shutting down XDefiant. Even though it might not be enough to keep the shooter operational, its popularity due to its classic mechanics and lack of skill-based matchmaking, which fosters diverse gameplay, demonstrates how many players appreciated the developer’s creation.

In a bold move, XDefiant has tried to challenge the dominance of Call of Duty, a feat few other shooter games have achieved in recent times. Given that a new Battlefield game is on the horizon, one might wonder if there’s any franchise equipped to rival Activision’s powerful juggernaut?

Read More

2024-12-04 14:40