EXCLUSIVE – XDefiant is on Borrowed Time as Player Numbers Decline Rapidly

As a former employee at Ubisoft San Francisco, I can say that the news about XDefiant isn’t exactly music to my ears. The excitement and energy that filled the halls when the game was first announced has been replaced by a palpable tension, as the team works tirelessly against the ticking clock. It’s a bit like watching a thriller movie where you know the protagonist is making mistakes, but they’re oblivious to the danger lurking around the corner.

Based on information from various Ubisoft resources, Ubisoft San Francisco has until the conclusion of Season 3 for XDefiant to enhance the game’s dwindling player count.

When XDefiant debuted in May 2024, it created quite a stir. The game broke a record for Ubisoft as it attracted over 1 million unique players within its first 2.5 hours and surpassed 8 million players in its initial week. This impressive performance left executives optimistic about the title’s future, going so far as to mention XDefiant’s revenue as a significant factor in Ubisoft’s Q1 2025 financial achievements. However, only six weeks following the release of their Q1 report, Ubisoft Headquarters is pushing for an increase in player numbers by Season 3. If this doesn’t happen, XDefiant may find itself without the crucial post-launch support it needs to thrive.

Within the company, there’s been a significant change in outlook for the game, largely because the player count has dropped consistently and spending by players is decreasing. One insider revealed that the game can barely muster 20,000 concurrent players across all its platforms, while another suggested that number would be considered acceptable by Ubisoft, indicating it’s much lower now. This downward trend has led to worry and unease among team members, with sources suggesting further layoffs are imminent.

Additionally, Ubisoft San Francisco isn’t immune to the mounting stress. Just this month, Ubisoft announced a reduction of 45 positions at its California and North Carolina offices. Among those affected were approximately ten team members working on XDefiant, with even more employees at the studio losing their jobs due to the downsizing of Rocksmith+.

Inside the studio, there’s growing dissatisfaction directed at the management team, who have consistently declined to acknowledge their role in the project’s flaws. It appears these shortcomings might have been mitigated with a healthier studio environment. Earlier in March 2024, I exposed concerns about the studio’s toxic work atmosphere, yet following an internal probe that concluded last month, I was informed that the problems persist and were essentially ignored.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve been keeping an eye on XDefiant and here’s what I’ve gathered: The higher-ups are putting everything they’ve got on Season 3 to revitalize the game. However, with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 dropping between Seasons 2 and 3, it’s left a cloud of uncertainty hanging over XDefiant. Some folks I’ve talked to aren’t feeling too optimistic about its future. In fact, one insider went as far as predicting more layoffs at Ubisoft San Fran within the next six months.

If you’ve been employed or are currently working at Ubisoft San Francisco or any other Ubisoft studios in recent times, feel free to confidentially and safely reach out to me via this protected email address: [email protected]

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