XDefiant: Final Update Launches Before 2025 Departure

Ubisoft's Call of Duty Competitor XDefiant to Shutdown in 2025

Ubisoft's free-to-play arena shooter, XDefiant, billed as a rival to the popular Call of Duty series, is set to be discontinued in 2025, with a significant update released as a farewell to the game on December 18, 2024. This final update, dubbed S3.0+, encompasses a wide range of features, including three new factions and 13 additional maps.

A Final Salute and Closure of XDefiant

News of XDefiant's impending closure was shared on the game's official Twitter account alongside its last update patch notes. Mark Rubin, the Executive Producer of the game, expressed gratitude to the development team and the community, stating, “I wish everyone who worked on this game directly or indirectly the best for their future endeavors.”

Bars of worry were raised among xDefiant's fans when the PlayStation arena shooter Concord was abruptly shut down after two weeks of its debut. However, despite Rubin defending the game's longevity in September, Ubisoft announced earlier this month that it would finally pull down the curtain on XDefiant on June 3, 2025.

XDefiant’s S3.0+ Update – Rundown of What's Included

The farewell update is hefty, highlighting the introduction of the Assassins class, which is inspired by the central characters of Ubisoft’s popular franchise, Assassin's Creed. Brand new factions Wolves and Blood Dragon join the roster, each with their unique strengths and abilities. Other additions include a progression mechanic for Faction Mastery and Badges, new weapons, a gameplay experience called Tactical, as well as map voting improvements.

In a seminal move, XDefiant is allowing players to face bots in Vs Bot Battle mode, where players can engage with varying levels of AI-controlled opponents while gaining experience points, albeit at a slower rate than human enemies.

Closure is Nigh: What Players Can Expect in the Last Days

While Ubisoft has signaled the end, XDefiant is bowing out with grandeur, giving players a multitude of new content to enjoy in its twilight. The final update is comprehensive and covers various aspects from game modes, bugs fixing, to gameplay features.

The tapering down of XDefiant's life cycle began with the one-time S3.0+ update, which encapsulates a range of enhancements and additions to the gaming experience, such as the ability to earn daily rewards and Credits, XDefiant's new in-game currency. There are also changes to the audio and visuals of the game for an improved playing experience.

Ubisoft also introduced the Prestige system in the final update. It’s an optional progression system that rewards players' dedication with emblems and cosmetics. The system resets player progress after each showcase of prestige, locking out all weaponry except for a select few, challenging the players to re-earn their progress for exclusive rewards.

Despite the impending closure, XDefiant intends to keep up the excitement, sporting an array of new gameplay modes, ranging from 'Defuse,' 'Vs Bots,' 'Lum Hunt' to 'Tilt' and 'Turbo XD.' These limited-time modes promise diverse and engaging gameplay experiences that will ensure the game continues to entertain until its final day.