Summary

  • XDefiant's release date of May 21 has been confirmed, offering five game modes, 14 maps, 24 weapons, and 44 attachments at launch.
  • Developed by Ubisoft San Francisco, XDefiant aims to provide a Call of Duty-style multiplayer experience with characters from popular Ubisoft franchises.
  • Players can expect a new season every three months, with Ubisoft's Year 1 roadmap promising a new faction each season starting with the Dedsec faction.

XDefiant, Ubisoft's Call of Duty rival, has finally revealed its new release date of May 21. When it was first revealed in 2021, XDefiant was met with confusion and criticism from Ubisoft fans. Since then, after several playtest periods and a beta last summer, sentiment surrounding the FPS improved, as it featured sound gunplay and engaging combat, though it ultimately wasn't as polished as Call of Duty. Despite the positive response, the title was hit with several more delays, one in October and another this past March, leaving the fate of the game up in the air.

While another FPS in Ubisoft's portfolio, XDefiant differs from Rainbow Six Siege as it aims to provide an experience similar to that of Call of Duty multiplayer. Led by former Infinity Ward producer Mark Rubin at Ubisoft San Fransisco, XDefiant mashes together the worlds of Far Cry, Watch Dogs, Splinter Cell, The Division, and Ghost Recon, letting fans play as members of Libertad, Dedsec, Echelon, the Phantoms, and the Cleaners, each with a unique set of characters and abilities. XDefiant's maps also take place in key locations from these popular Ubisoft franchises.

Gameplay Deep Dive Trailer
5 Improvements XDefiant Needs Before Release

After multiple beta tests and feedback from players, developers have a few tweaks to make in preparation for full release.

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XDefiant now has what is hopefully its final release date: May 21. Ubisoft's Call of Duty competitor will become available on Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, and PC exclusively via Ubisoft Connect. Players can expect five game modes and 14 maps at launch, as well as a total of 24 weapons and 44 attachments to play with. Players will need to unlock several of the game's characters, including the entire Dedsec faction, by completing in-game missions.

XDefiant Release Date

  • May 21

It's strange that XDefiant seems to be abstaining from a Steam and Epic Games Store launch, at least initially, considering how popular online first-person shooters are on those platforms. Nevertheless, it'll be interesting to see how XDefiant's seasons will pan out. Ubisoft confirmed that players can expect a new season every three months. Whether they'll meet the expectations of the playerbase and satisfy fans will remain to be seen. Furthermore, Ubisoft's Year 1 roadmap for XDefiant promises a new faction each season. Exactly what these factions will be, and from which games is a mystery, but groups like a modernized Assassin Brotherhood from Assassin's Creed or Team Rainbow from Rainbow Six would fit right into XDefiant's current roster.

For now, FPS fans can get ready to dive into the world of all things Ubisoft when XDefiant releases on May 21. Pre-season will last six weeks before Season 1 goes live. Season 3 of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone will be winding down by May 21; it'll be a great window for Ubisoft to try and pull Call of Duty players over to XDefiant before Season 4 of Call of Duty hits.

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XDefiant Tag Page Cover Art
XDefiant
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FPS
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Systems
PC-1 PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
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Released
May 21, 2024
ESRB
T For Teen due to Mild Language, Violence
Developer(s)
Ubisoft San Francisco
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XDefiant is a free-to-play, first-person online arena shooter where you compete in fast-paced clashes. With cross-play available at launch, you will be able to play with friends on a variety of platforms.

Season 1 introduces the Team Rainbow operators of GS-Kommando leveraging their counter-terrorism training to disrupt their enemies. They can deploy electrified barbed wire for area denial, counter incoming enemy devices with their Active Defense System, and dazzle multiple foes with flash charges mounted on their G52-Tactical Shield.

While GS-Kommando operators pride themselves on using non-lethal force whenever possible, they are as capable on the battlefield as any spec ops group.

Customized Loadouts: Choose from a large arsenal of weapons, attachments, and devices to optimize the way you play. Combine any weapon with any faction, and unlock new options as you play to perfect your playstyle.

Factions: Factions are drawn from iconic Ubisoft worlds and represent distinct classes, each with unique abilities and ultras. Choose any character from any faction to assemble your team of six players. Change your faction at any point during play to adapt to your strategy.

Maps, Modes, and Mayhem: Play in a diverse range of 14 maps at launch across several different arena and linear modes including Zone Control, Escort, Occupy, and more. Fight in casual matches or climb the tiers in competitive ranked mode.

Publisher(s)
Ubisoft
Genre(s)
FPS