XDefiant is one of the most highly anticipated shooters of 2024 and it looks like players won’t have too much longer to wait to jump into the full release of Ubisoft’s new free-to-play competitive shooter. Ahead of the Server Test Session that will take place between April 19th and 21st, Ubisoft has released a new set of patch notes to highly the changes that have been made to XDefiant since the last time players had the opportunity to check it out.

Here are the full XDefiant Server Test Session patch notes.

XDefiant Server Test Session Patch Notes

Maps

• Bullet-proof glass is now less transparent.
• Bullet holes now look cooler.
• General performance optimizations.

Game Modes

• Escort and Zone Control are now two-round modes in standard playlists.
• Improved anti-cheat protection.
• Fixed several crashes related to game modes.
• Improved Escort end-of-match cinematics.

Netcode

• Made improvements to hit registration and desyncing. We’re still working on this!
• It’s a lot harder to fall out of the world/map. Let us know if you manage it.
• Improved network infrastructure and framework.

Social

• Switched to a new social-system infrastructure for friending, party management, chat, etc.

Accessibility

• Added the Flashbang Effect setting, allowing players to select a bright or dark flashbang effect.

Audio

• Various sound improvements and fixes. Really, too many to list. So many.
• Voice-over-trigger cleanup to improve in-match VO, plus new triggers added.

Gameplay

Factions

• Fixed an issue with the Echelon Sonar Goggles pistol that caused it to be more accurate than intended while the player was airborne.
• Adjusted how skills deploy on stairs.

Weapons

• Improved multiple weapon and attachment-related animations.
• Added new sprint animations for pistols to improve the feeling and timing of our footstep SFX.

Attachments

• Fixed an issue where some attachments weren’t applying ADS Speed changes as expected.
• Increased the M249 LMG reload speed bonus of the Quick and Fast Magazines.
• Increased the visible range of scope glint on Sniper rifles with the Variable Zoom, CQBSS, and Sniper scopes equipped from 100m -> 150m.
• Fixed an issue that was causing scope glint to be visible for the Variable Zoom scope when used on the MK20 SSR and SVD Marksman rifles.

Devices

• All devices have improved collision and are less likely to bounce off invisible geometry.
• Grenades look better as they fly through the air, which is nice.
• Flashbang now interrupts sprint and imparts a slight movement decrease to those affected.

Movement

• Fixed an issue that caused sliding to be shorter at higher framerates.
• Sliding and mantling are smoother.

Misc.

• Fixed an issue with the “Player of the Game” screen where if the MVP player crashed after the game ended, they’d be invisible.
• Fixed an issue with the Scoreboard not updating for players who joined a match in progress.
• Local player shadows improved to reflect player’s current aim direction.
• Fixed many issues where your character’s hands or arms did weird stuff.

Known Issues

• When players join a lobby during matchmaking, the list of players present may not update for all players.
• If a player is killed while activating the DedSec Hijack ability, the ability becomes unusable for the remainder of the match.
• Players may appear as offline when they are not offline in party management and other social screens.
• Speech-to-text feature is not working on Xbox Series X|S.
• If a player is killed while deploying a device, the next deployed device will drop at the player’s feet instead of being thrown. Inconvenient if it’s a frag grenade.
• If a player is killed while deploying a device, the next deployed device will drop at the player’s feet instead of being thrown. Inconvenient if it’s a frag grenade.
• Some HUD elements are misplaced on PS5.
• If a player is hit with by an EMP grenade while deploying an ability, that ability will be unusable for much longer than intended.
• Xbox users currently don’t see their Xbox Friends list as the primary list of friends.
• Disabling the in-game overly in Ubisoft Connect Settings will disable all in-game notifications, including social-related features.

The XDefiant Server Test Session will begin on Friday, April 19th at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM BST and conclude on Sunday, April 21st at the same time. It is available to pre-load now on PC via Ubisoft Connect, PS5, and Xbox Series X. Players that take part in the Server Test Session will be able to unlock the following rewards:

• Play in the test: MP5 Shamrock Weapon Skin
• Play in a Party: M9 Ember Weapon Skin
• Reach Level 18: Weapon XP Boosters (x3)

As of writing, no official release date has been given for XDefiant, but a recent leak suggests a possible May 13th release, which if correct means that players will only have a few weeks longer to wait before being able to play the full game.