XDefiant release date: When does Ubisoft’s next shooter come out?

Alexandra W

Alexandra W

XDefiant finally has its release date!

The multiplayer, multiverse shooter by Ubisoft, XDefiant, is finally on its way. The game hung in release limbo for the better part of a year. XDefiant's official X account for the game recently announced a real launch date, following another successful test session.

XDefiant, the free-to-play FPS, had a series of successful betas with the last happening in April of 2024. And now we're ready for the full release on May 21.

When is XDefiant's release date?

Ubisoft’s XDefiant is slated to release on May 21, 2024.

After a long period of silence, the XDefiant X account announced another test session, this time to once again test the health of XDefiant's servers. The post also stated that the developers "expect to be able to lock a launch date" following the end of this test.

Previously, Ubisoft's Executive Game Director Mark Rubin posted a blog post in September of 2023 about why XDefiant hasn't received a solid release date on. In short, XDefiant had not passed the certification process needed to release a game on platforms like Xbox and PlayStation. That's what is causing the delay.

The blog post explained that companies like Sony and Microsoft are looking for "compliance bugs". This type of bug is something that impacts the functionality of the game with the systems. Examples of these type of compliance bugs from the blog post were "Are trophies being properly tracked" or "is my friend's list being properly updated with game status".

Optimistic fans waited patiently for things to be resolved, and their patience has paid off.

What is XDefiant?

XDefiant is a free-to-play FPS that will feature character factions from a wide range of Ubisoft titles. These factions are being sourced from a few Tom Clancy games, as well as Far Cry and Watch Dogs. For a deeper dive into what’s coming with the release of XDefiant and how the factions will operate, check out our full breakdown here.

XDefiant gameplay (Image via Ubisoft)
XDefiant gameplay (Image via Ubisoft)

The gameplay is similar to games like Call of Duty or Overwatch 2. Game modes will include Escort, Zone Control, and Domination on 12 different maps. The developers confirmed they will be adding ranked gameplay. This will create a more competitive mode for players who are eager for a challenge. Once every three months, the game will also be adding more factions alongside new maps, weapons and events.

With a confirmed XDefiant release date, stay tuned to esports.gg for more coverage and esports news.