XDefiant just put out an absolutely massive patch featuring 3 new factions and more for a game you can't even download now
XDefiant just issued an absurdly gigantic final patch for the free-to-play FPS that's already been removed from stores and will be taken completely offline on June 3rd, 2025.
"It's obviously a bittersweet moment," executive producer Mark Rubin wrote on Twitter while sharing the update, "but I just want to say how proud I am of everyone on this team that did everything they could to make this game and all of its amazing content."
Earlier this year, publisher Ubisoft laid off a huge number of developers in its San Francisco office, where many XDefiant developers worked. Finally, earlier this month, it did what everyone imagined it would do and began shutting XDefiant down, a sad outcome Rubin attributed to the volatility of the game's free-to-play model in a separate Twitter announcement.
People who downloaded XDefiant prior to its sunsetting will at least be able to enjoy the spoils of its new Frankenstein update, which takes pieces from several planned seasons and mashes them into one patchwork behemoth.
Most notably, the patch introduces three new factions: strategic Assassins, then Wolves, who use stealthy drone attacks, and the brute-force cyber soldiers Blood Dragon. XDefiant's final update also features several new modes – including the Turbo XD super-jumping contest and one where you gather XP by facing bots – and an optional prestige system.
"All of this and more are our last tribute to all of the hard-working people that made this game and to all of the fans who have been with us through this journey," Rubin continued on Twitter. "Not all journeys end well, but we can all be proud of what we accomplished."
XDefiant is shutting down as Ubisoft closes San Francisco and Osaka offices following "long journey" of free-to-play struggles, up to 177 devs impacted .
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