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

Ubisoft’s attempted free-to-play CoD killer xDefiant is officially shutting down in June 2025. Following rumours of a shutdown earlier this year, which were quickly denied, the free-to-play FPS game will be turned off next year.

In response to the game’s surprise death, fans of the game have banded together. While some create petitions in an attempt to save the game, others are simply expressing their dismay over the game’s rapid closure.

xDefiant fans are upset, angry and confused

Following the game’s announcement, countless fans took to the xDefiant subreddit to say their peace. While some accepted the game’s closure, citing issues like poor game variety and more, others believed the game deserved way more.

“Gutted is an understatement,” one player wrote after the announcement. “Can’t believe it’s actually happening. It’s been a good ride, fellas.”

Downloaded today, have a ton of fun, play with friends for 6 hours, go to bed, look at phone, see this…… I can’t have nice things,” a brand-new player said.

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

“Ubisoft could have done something great with this,” complained another. “Now it’s all down the drain and COD continues its reign. A Steam launch could save it but Ubisoft being Ubisoft.”

The unpopular first-person shooter was heavily promoted before launch as a game that launched without skill-based matchmaking. However, despite online sentiment being against the matchmaking feature, it appeared to turn more players off the game.

xDefiant wasn’t a terrible game on launch and it did improve with later updates. However, as our May 2024 review explained, it was simply a “derivative shooter lost in the crowd” of other, more successful games.

“Despite varied factions and excellent maps, XDefiant’s shootouts are let down by a lack of identity and sluggish weapon progression,” our reviewer Anthony Terrace wrote. “Outside an emphasis on making skill-based matchmaking optional, the game plays like every shooter from the last decade, leaning into nostalgia over attempting a breakthrough.”