XDefiant Release Date and Preseason Content Revealed

Ubisoft has announced the XDefiant release date, and the studio is bringing its free-to-play shooter to PC and current-gen consoles later this month.

Per an official announcement post, XDefiant lands on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on May 21st. That’s when the preseason period begins; the first full season is scheduled to start around six weeks from that date.

XDefiant was first announced back in 2021. It was originally slated for a release within the 2023-24 fiscal year, but was delayed in October last year in order to address player feedback gathered during a set of playtests.

So, what are you getting in the XDefiant preseason? According to Ubisoft, you’ll be able to play across 14 different maps, with five factions available (one of which, Watch Dogs‘ Dedsec, you’ll have to either unlock or buy).

Five gameplay modes will be available, and a ranked mode practice playlist will also be playable so that you can figure out your strategy for when the ranked mode drops.

The first year’s roadmap for XDefiant includes a new faction each season, as well as new weapons, maps, and arena and progression modes to access. In short, it looks like XDefiant has a packed year ahead of it. Let’s hope it finds its audience.

XDefiant is Ubisoft’s entry into the free-to-play arena shooter genre. The studio is promising fast-paced action across a number of Ubisoft-themed worlds, with two core gameplay styles available: Arena and Progression.

In Arena modes, you’ll battle it out with enemy teams in order to control territories and achieve dominance. Progression modes, meanwhile, will see teams competing to push a moving objective or to “contest shifting objective points”.

XDefiant launches for PC, games/xdefiant/” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on May 21st, and it’ll be free to play, so you can check it out without having to make a financial commitment. Stay tuned for more on this.