Ubisoft, the renowned French publisher, has made the decision to shut down its free-to-play shooter, XDefiant. According to a blog post by Marie-Sophie de Waubert, who serves as the chief studios and portfolio officer, the game struggled to attract and maintain enough players to stay afloat. Unfortunately, this closure affects nearly 300 staff members, with 143 employees based in San Francisco and another 134 from offices in Osaka and Sydney.
De Waubert expressed her heartfelt gratitude to those affected, saying, “To those team members leaving Ubisoft, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your work and contributions. Please know that we are committed to supporting you during this transition.” She emphasized Ubisoft’s ongoing focus on games-as-a-service, pointing out successful ventures like Rainbow Six, The Crew, and For Honor. She acknowledged the competitive nature of the market and noted that the experiences gained from XDefiant will inform their approach to future live-service titles.
“Globally, we are determined to take the necessary steps to put the company back on a path to growth, innovation, and creativity and make sure we can set you up for success,” she continued. Highlighting the need for evolution in production and business strategies, de Waubert assured that updates would be provided openly and regularly. “My sincere thanks for your continued dedication as we navigate these trying times together,” she concluded.
This announcement comes shortly after Ubisoft’s previous assurance in October that XDefiant wouldn’t be shutting down anytime soon.
