Ubisoft has announced that it will shut down its free-to-play battle royale game XDefiant in June 2025 due to poor player numbers and lack of spending. The decision was made following an internal all-hands meeting, where sources revealed that layoffs would impact a significant number of employees.
Season 3 will be the final season of the game, with a skeleton crew maintaining it until its closure. Ubisoft has confirmed plans to provide refunds for cosmetic items and other purchases at a later date. The news comes after struggles for the game since its release in Season 1, including low spending and a toxic work culture within the development team.
The layoffs will affect around 277 people across multiple studios, with some staff already receiving severance information. Another wave of layoffs is expected to occur in February, with Ubisoft San Francisco and Osaka closing their doors. Former employees and current studio insiders have expressed frustration with the game’s leadership and culture, which they believe contributed to its poor performance.
Mark Rubin has since issued a statement confirming XDefiant’s closure, and current and former employees can reach out to Tom Henderson for anonymous comment at [email protected]. The news raises questions about Ubisoft’s future prospects and whether other studios are affected by similar struggles.
Source: https://insider-gaming.com/ubisoft-xdefiant-shutting-down-in-june