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

The multiplayer, multiverse shooter by Ubisoft, XDefiant, is still unreleased. The game has hung in release limbo for the better part of a year. XDefiant's official Twitter account for the game recently announced that another Server Test Session will happen soon and will, hopefully, be followed by a real launch date.

XDefiant, the free-to-play FPS, had a series of successful closed betas with the latest in April of 2023, but then entered a long period of development hell.

So far, there’s no confirmed release date for Ubisoft’s XDefiant.

After a long period of silence, the XDefiant Twitter 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. This language doesn't exactly inspire confidence, but we can hope that the game will release sooner than later.

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". So far, XDefiant has not passed their first compliance test, so more work is needed.

Though fans were optimistic that the game would release between last September and October, the game has still not dropped.

Earlier this year in January, dedicated fans have noticed that XDefiant is downloadable on the PlayStation 5. It seems that this was another dead end for fans, as no release date followed. Though, it did create enough buzz that people remembered this game was supposed to come out.

Seeing signs of life from XDefiant are definitely exciting, but with no actual release date, fans will have to continue being patient.

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.

The gameplay will be 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.

While there won't be any more betas, XDefiant will have one more server test soon. This will hopefully be the last event before the game officially launches, but we won't hold our breath.

There have been multiple beta tests since August 2021, with the latest in April 2023. This latest test will follow in the long line of server and beta tests.

When XDefiant confirms a real release date, we'll be sure to update you here! For more XDefiant information and esports news, check back at esports.gg!