The hopes of a AAA Call of Duty alternative arriving this year have seemingly just been dashed. Ubisoft’s upcoming, really poorly named, first-person shooter XDefiant has once again been pushed back ahead of its October release.
Ubisoft, via the official XDefiant X, formerly Twitter, (see why its annoying?) account announced that the game has been delayed indefinitely. According to the publisher, a recent Public Test Session (PTS) uncovered “inconsistencies” in the game that need to be fixed prior to XDefiant’s preseason.
An update on XDefiant- pic.twitter.com/3orSnspmp6
— XDefiant (@PlayXDefiant) October 9, 2023
Thank you to everyone who participated in our recent Public Test Session and continues to stand alongside us as we build XDefiant,” the announcement reads. “The PTS once again showed us your appreciation for our fast-paced gunplay, uniquely crafted maps, objective-driven modes, and iconic Faction roster.”
“But it also surfaced some inconsistencies in the game experience that we need to address prior to launching our Preseason. So we’ve made the hard decision to delay the Preseason of XDefiant. The team will continue working to address these issues and testing them to make sure we deliver on our goal of being a best-in-class arcade shooter.”
“We will share more information about Preseason and testing as it comes. Thanks again for your support – we’re working hard to make something really special and we couldn’t do it without you.”
XDefiant was slated for release this month, ahead of the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Many fans hoped to try out the game as it has been touted as Ubisoft’s answer to Call of Duty. The game has been designed to feel like older CoD titles, focusing on fast-paced gunfights and objective-driven modes.
XDefiant also includes features such as the classic mini-map and persistent lobbies that appeal to players searching for that classic Call of Duty feel. Draped over the gameplay designed to mimic older Call of Duty titles, in case that part wasn’t clear yet, would have been an odd mashup of Tom Clancy’s greatest hits mixed with original characters and narratives.
Mark Rubin, executive producer at Ubisoft San Francisco, went into more detail about the delay. According to Rubin, the movement was “feeling off” for some PTS participants while the slide felt “nerfed or clunkier.” There were also issues with the slide being canceled by frame spikes.
— Mark Rubin (@PixelsofMark) October 9, 2023
“I know it’s a bummer that we are moving the date especially since we seemed so close and that for many the game is great and they can’t wait to play but I’d rather ship a game that is better for everyone,” Rubin tweeted. “Our intent for this game is to be something that players can return to for many years and to do that we have to build this game with the community.”
The delay may be a blessing in disguise for Ubisoft. For one, the studio will avoid the crowded October release window with the likes of Alan Wake 2 and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 taking up much attention. Second, the studio can work on fixes and distance itself from the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Ubisoft San Francisco can also take a look at gamer reactions to Modern Warfare 3 to gauge what players really want in a shooter.
XDefiant does not have a new release window yet. We will keep you updated on new information about the game.
