The multiplayer shooter genre has gone through a strange movement in recent years. Call of Duty just isn’t what it used to be, Battlefield 2042 missed the mark somewhat, and even Apex Legends has become less interesting as it enters its 21st season of content. This is where a whole bunch of new kids have emerged, and XDefiant is one we’ve been waiting for for a while. But is this really the CoD killer we were promised? XDefiant may not be the slam dunk we were hoping for, but it has the legs to grow into something special.
XDefiant is what we would call a multiversal shooter. This free-to-play release spans the scope of Ubisoft IP and lets players take on the role of factions from franchises such as Splinter Cell and Far Cry in 6v6 game modes. Not only that, but each map is styled and based on locations from said franchises – from the Nudleplex in Watch Dogs 2 to an apocalyptic rendition of New York as in The Division. It’s an interesting premise, wrapped in an old-school arcade shooter that harkens back to the golden days of Call of Duty.
As you might expect, there’s a certain simplicity to XDefiant that’s infectiously enjoyable. There are no major gimmicks in the game mode, nor is there an elaborate lore-based reason for Echelon super spies to battle Dedsec cyberhackers. That might be a little off-putting to some, as you can find most of what XDefiant has to offer in other shooters, but the back-to-basics vibe of Ubisoft’s latest is undeniably inviting.
Of course, vibes only get you so far, so it’s nice that we also have a snappy shooter on our hands that feels competitively better than the beta we played just over a month ago. There are aspects that irritate – such as the virtually stopped movement after a slide – but matches feel fast, weapon control is fine-tuned and the time-to-kill is fairly well balanced. It’s definitely not the best it feels like a shooter, and it lacks the distinct heaviness you’d even find in games like Modern Warfare 3. We’re also a little disappointed with the lack of haptics, which aside from the detailed thumps when landing after a jump, are quite are faint. Fortunately, that’s the only disappointment on the PS5 side, as performance always feels smooth, and aside from some teething problems on the server, we never had an issue with the game’s performance or usability.
To add some flavor to the mix, XDefiant is basically a hero shooter, with each faction offering unique tactical and ultimate abilities. These range from fire-breathing drones to portable dome shields. It’s a nice addition to the whole experience, but it’s never completely in your face like in Overwatch or Apex Legends. It takes the focus off the core gameplay experience, which can make it feel a little half-baked at times, but ultimately it works with the tight-knit map design straight out of old-school Call of Duty.
Maps here have a classic three-lane design and are one of XDefiant’s biggest strengths. Instant respawn times have you back in the action in seconds, and there’s always a skirmish going on at each of the game’s chokepoints. When a match breaks out, you’ll be in constant turmoil with enemies coming from all sides. Sure, it leads to the occasional curse word and we just managed to snag those DualSenses, but more often than not it’s an exciting, locked-in sense of play.
For those who are looking the next shooter they can put all their time into, XDefiant is already prepared to keep you engaged. From a base game perspective, you can unlock weapons, attachments, and skins by leveling up and completing specific challenges. Even the Dedsec faction is locked behind a 700,000 XP earning challenge. You’ll then get weekly and daily challenges for extra XP and of course the big (albeit boring) battle pass to work your way through. It’s fun to have to fight for your rewards, but XDefiant lacks that satisfying level progression where several matches can go by without meaningful unlocks.
As we look ahead to the weeks and months after launch, Ubisoft has promised to bring new factions and maps from across its library of IP to the game, along with new seasonal content. It all sounds quite promising, and Ubisoft has a proven track record of supporting its multiplayer games. Just look at Rainbow Six: Siege of For Honor and you’ll get a glimpse of the potential scope of XDefiant.
However, the biggest problem for us right now is the lack of character on display here. We’re talking about the company behind several iconic franchises And characters, spanning hundreds of years (in terms of setting) and multiple genres. But what awaits us on the first day is a rather grizzled military shooter. As a hero shooter, why can’t we play as iconic characters like Sam Fisher from Splinter Cell or Vaas from Far Cry 3? Likewise, we imagine maps set in Renaissance Italy straight out of Assassin’s Creed 2, or you could even dream of an Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora-inspired map.
If we’re honest, we expect a lot of this to come to fruition in post-launch content and skin purchases over time, so there’s still hope. As it stands now, XDefiant doesn’t feel like that Real capitalizing on the potential of its premise with the six franchises it currently uses. From a purely aesthetic perspective, this could be any other shooter.
Conclusion
XDefiant is a solid shooter that will likely scratch the arcade-y itch with its punchy gunplay, iconic map design, and fan-favorite game modes. It’s the perfect multiplayer shooter to get into on the weekend, and we suspect there will be several late night sessions for old-school Call of Duty fans. It’s not really a breath of fresh air for the genre that The Finals is, but rather a blast from the past. Is it a CoD killer? No, but if Ubisoft can work its magic and compete with its multi-franchise post-launch content, XDefiant could become a staple of the shooter genre.