Ubisoft’s Xdefiant finally has a release date after multiple delays

Ubisoft’s free-to-play first-person shooter XDefiant finally has a release date. After a delay, the game’s Preseason will launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X on May 21 via Ubisoft Connect. According to the studio, XDefiant will feature five different game modes across 14 maps at launch. Players will start with 24 weapons and 44 attachments and can try out five playable factions inspired by the Ubisoft franchise.

Ubisoft also provided a brief roadmap for the online shooter, detailing a planned seasonal content drop following the launch of Preseason. According to the studio, XDefiant Preseason will run for six weeks before the first season begins. The game will get a new season every three months, with each new season bringing new weapons, maps, events, and a new faction.

In its first year, XDefiant Preseason will add four factions, 12 weapons, and 12 maps on top of the content present at launch. The five factions at launch will be based on familiar groups from Ubisoft games like Far Cry, Splinter Cell, and Watch Dogs. These will include Echelon, Phantom, Cleaners, Libertad, and DedSec (after unlocking or purchasing). The game will also launch with five modes – Domination, Hot Shot, Occupy, Escort and Zone Control.

XDefiant was delayed to September last year after the game failed console certification with PlayStation and Xbox. The game was initially expected to launch in summer 2023, before certification issues pushed the potential release to October 2023. XDefiant delayed again, with game targeting 2024 release window.

Ubisoft also held a closed beta in April 2023. In our impressions from the closed beta session, we found that Xdefiant will find it difficult to stand out in a market filled with online shooters and dominated by Call of Duty, despite its good execution.

XDefiant was first announced in 2021, promising “fast-paced 6-v-6 arena battles with faction-based abilities”. The game will go live on May 21 at 10am PT/1pm ET or 10:30pm IST.