Ubisoft has announced the closure of the XDefiant game service, with new players unable to download or register to play the game moving forward. However, servers will remain online until June 3, 2025, meaning the game will only be serviced for a year.
Furthermore, when XDefiant shuts down, Ubisoft will close studios in San Francisco and Osaka, resulting in the termination of approximately 300 employees. The remaining development team will be reassigned to other roles within Ubisoft.
Marie-Sophie de Waubert, the head of studios and portfolio, explained the closure in an internal announcement on Ubisoft’s website, citing the game’s inability to attract and retain players at the desired level within the FPS market.
In October, Mark Rubin, the production director, posted on X that player numbers had declined significantly due to minimal marketing efforts. The focus now is on improving the game before ramping up marketing to attract new players and bring back those who have stopped playing.
Ubisoft reported a nearly 20% decline in sales in the third quarter, but an increase in player engagement rates. Additionally, the company disclosed a reduction of over 2,000 employees in the past 24 months, including layoffs and voluntary resignations.
TLDR: Ubisoft is shutting down the XDefiant game service, closing studios, and reducing staff as part of restructuring efforts amidst declining sales and player numbers.
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