When does XDefiant Come Out

Ubisoft's upcoming free-to-play first-person shooter, XDefiant, has been making waves since its initial announcement. Its captivating blend of gameplay elements, combining characteristics of fan favorites like Call of Duty and features unique to Ubisoft's franchises, has made gamers eager to play it sooner, rather than later.

Release Date Speculation 

While Ubisoft has yet to officially confirm a release date, an investors meeting and shareholders report suggested that XDefiant would be launched by the first quarter of 2024. The game, which was titled "XDefiant: Season 0" in the report, was therefore anticipated to be released by now. But as March's end drew near, it became apparent that the development team was encountering difficulties. Despite the setback, work on the game continues, with new speculation centering on a release date by the end of April 2024.

In an older blog post, Ubisoft's Mark Rubin outlined why they havent announced an official release date for XDefiant, and it's a nothingburger:

"So, when it comes to when we will release, the real answer is as soon as we can." -Ubisoft

XDefiant Confirmed Game Modes 

XDefiant will offer wide array of gameplay experiences with its Arena and Progression modes. Arena modes such as Domination, Occupy, and Hot Shot provide engaging Player-versus-Player battles, while Progression modes like Escort and Zone Control puts an emphasis on strategic gameplay. 

Mark Rubin, the game's executive producer, unveiled plans to introduce 10 to 12 new maps within the first year, setting the expectations high. The first season also expects to feature three operators from Rainbow Six Siege, teasing a crossover event that both franchises' fans can eagerly look forward to. 

Platforms and Crossplay 

XDefiant will be available on multiple gaming platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Ubisoft has guaranteed frictionless crossplay throughout all platforms, thus squashing fears about a divided player base.  It's also likely that we'll be seeing XDefiant appear on Blizzard's Battle.net game launcher, among others:

"The upcoming launch of XDefiant will take us a step further into the world of Free-to-play, in line with our strategy of strengthening our position in Live services and increasing the recurrence of our business. We are also planning significant partnerships, including the non-exclusive licensing of the Activision Blizzard streaming rights that we acquired last October. " -Ubisoft

XDefiant vs Call of Duty

Crowned "the free-to-play version of Call of Duty", how does XDefiant stack up versus the OG shooter?

Let's compare the two:

Each game presents its own uniqueness. Call of Duty's regular releases and varied gameplay have secured its position as a favorite among gamers. However, XDefiant, with its focus on fast-paced, customizable combat and free-to-play model, is expected to grab a lot of players from COD.

We'll just have to wait and see!