Ubisoft's XDefiant: A Highly Anticipated FPS Arena Game
The executive producer of Ubisoft, Mark Rubin, has announced a release period for their upcoming game, XDefiant. XDefiant, a free-to-play first-person combat arena game, has been highly anticipated since its open beta in June, which surpassed Call of Duty in terms of viewership on Twitch. Its success has been highlighted by comments from FaZe Jev, who claimed that the worst map in XDefiant is superior to all recent COD maps.
However, despite these comparisons, Rubin has asserted that XDefiant is not intended to surpass Call of Duty. He stated, "This game won't kill Call of Duty. Only Call of Duty can kill Call of Duty. It will be a game for players who are seeking an alternative FPS similar to Call of Duty."
Release Delays and Concerns
Initially, XDefiant had a key advantage over its competitor as it was slated for a 'late summer' release, well ahead of the planned release of Modern Warfare 3 on November 10. However, due to undisclosed delays, the game's release has been pushed back, potentially coinciding with the release dates of the MW3 beta, which has raised concerns within the community.
Worries escalated when Rubin revealed that the game had not been approved after a late submission in July. The team has spent a month working on a new submission, expected to take place within the next two weeks. This delay could place the release of the arena combat game somewhere between mid-September and mid-October.
Potential Clash with Modern Warfare 3 Beta
This is a delicate period as it coincides with the dates of the private beta for Modern Warfare 3. The beta begins on October 6 and concludes with an open session from October 14 to 16. The XDefiant community has expressed apprehension regarding the timing, warning the developers against a direct confrontation with the hugely popular Modern Warfare series.
Call of Duty journalist, Keshav Bhat, has questioned the impact of releasing XDefiant simultaneously with the MW3 beta. Echoing Bhat's sentiments, renowned Warzone content creator, FaZe Swagg, stated, "Not smart on their part." Another member of the Call of Duty community, RaidAway, agreed, saying, "I know they said they're not competing with Call of Duty, but naturally, they are. It could spoil the mood right from the start, I don't know," he added.
The Uncertain Future
The future of Ubisoft's latest FPS project remains uncertain. It is unknown whether it will withstand the pressure and prove to be a lasting success or be overshadowed by the release of Modern Warfare 3.