Today marks a significant turn of events as news emerges that Ubisoft will be shutting down XDefiant in June 2025. This decision, as revealed in an internal all-hands meeting today, was driven by poor player numbers and a lack of player spending. It is understood that this will have a profound impact on a significant number of employees at the San Francisco studio and supporting studios. Some staff have already received severance information, and another wave of layoffs is set to occur in February, with Ubisoft San Francisco and Osaka closing their doors. Around 170-180 people are expected to lose their jobs.

Impact on the Game and Its Future

Season 3 will be the last entire season of XDefiant, with a skeleton crew maintaining the title until the shutdown date. According to those familiar with the situation, Ubisoft will be updating XDefiant players on refunds for cosmetic items and other purchases at a later date. XDefiant faced an uphill battle soon after the release of Season 1, with a lack of player spending forcing the team to cut costs. In August 2024, Insider Gaming reported that XDefiant was on borrowed time despite initially having strong player numbers. Frustrations within the studio were often directed at its leadership, who failed to take responsibility for the project's shortcomings. These issues could have been avoided with a better studio culture.In late March 2024, there were reports of the studio's toxic work culture. Despite an internal investigation that concluded last month, it was revealed that the issues had been swept under the rug and still persisted.

Mark Rubin's Statement

Mark Rubin has issued a statement confirming the closure of XDefiant. Starting today (December 3, 2024), new downloads and player registrations will no longer be available. The team will still release Season 3 content in the near future, with the exact date yet to be announced.

Employee Support and Further Investigations

Both current and former employees of Ubisoft can reach out to the provided email address, [email protected], to share their experiences securely and anonymously as the investigation into the company's issues continues.For more Insider Gaming, stay tuned as we cover topics such as Ubisoft being sued over its return to office mandate. Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam.#ig-related-posts img { aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; }Related Posts