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Ubisoft is currently facing one of the most challenging periods in its history. Issues seem to be arising from every corner. There have been delays with Assassin’s Creed Shadows, a steady decline in stock prices, and numerous cancellations or postponements of games. Now, adding to these challenges are the problems surrounding XDefiant. Initially launched as a promising Call of Duty competitor, the game quickly lost traction. Rumors began circulating that most players have abandoned the title, and the developers have limited time to turn things around. In response, Ubisoft San Francisco released a statement to counter these claims. They asserted that the game is far from dying and has the company’s full support. However, the accuracy of this statement is still up for debate. Yves Guillemot admitted in an additional interview with investors and shareholders that the game remains behind expectations.
XDefiant Developers Address the Situation
In response to these rumors, Ubisoft San Francisco issued an official statement claiming that XDefiant is not dying and is performing well, with the entire company’s backing. However, in a recent interview, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot admitted that XDefiant is falling behind expectations, suggesting that the situation may be worse than initially portrayed. The situation escalated when Guillemot, in an interview with investors, revealed that XDefiant’s poor performance contributed to Ubisoft’s financial struggles. When asked about the lowered revenue expectations for the quarter, Guillemot attributed the issue to Star Wars Outlaws’ weaker sales and XDefiant’s lackluster reception. He promised to provide more details in the upcoming financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025, making the XDefiant community anxious about the game’s future.
Insider Speculation on XDefiant’s Fate
Earlier this month, Insider Gaming reported that Ubisoft San Francisco might pull content support for XDefiant if the player base doesn’t increase by the end of its third season. According to Tom Henderson of Insider Gaming, XDefiant was expected to drop below 200,000 cumulative daily players, sparking concern over its sustainability. Despite efforts like reward-filled events to bring back regular players, the game’s future remains uncertain. The ongoing troubles have led to speculation about a new strategy involving XDefiant launching on Steam. Such a move might boost the player base by leveraging the massive community on the platform and removing the necessity to join through Ubisoft Connect. This change could be pivotal, but only time will tell if it’s enough to save the game.
