The multiplayer shooter genre has been going in a strange direction in recent years. Call of Duty just isn’t what it used to be, Battlefield 2042 has somewhat missed the mark, and even Apex Legends has dipped in interest as it enters its 21st season of content. This is where a lot of the new kids on the block have reared their heads, and the XDefiant is one we’ve been waiting for quite some time. But is it really the CoD killer we were promised? The 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. Spanning the breadth of Ubisoft IP, this free-to-play edition allows players to 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 stylized and based on locations from the respective franchises – from the Noodleplex in Watch Dogs 2 to the apocalyptic rendition of New York like in The Division. It’s an interesting premise wrapped in an old arcade shooter reminiscent of 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 big game mode gimmicks, nor is there any expansive lore-based reason for the Echelon superspies to fight the Dedsec cyberhackers. It may be a little off-putting to some, as most of what XDefiant offers can be found in other shooters, but the back-to-basics vibe of Ubisoft’s latest is undeniably enticing.
Of course, vibes only take you so far, so it’s nice to also have a snappy shooter on our hands that’s leagues better than the beta we played over a month ago. There are aspects that will irritate – like the near-stop movement down the chute – but matches feel fast, weapon handling is fine-tuned, and time to kill is fairly well balanced. It certainly isn’t the best feel shooter and lacks the distinct weight you’d even find in Modern Warfare 3. We’re also a bit disappointed by the lack of haptics, which look pretty good aside from the detailed jump landing strikes. drab. Fortunately, this is the only disappointment on the PS5 side, as performance is always smooth, and aside from some server issues, we’ve never had a problem with game performance or usability.
To add some flavor to the mix, XDefiant is actually a hero shooter where each faction offers 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 quite as in-your-face as it is in Overwatch or Apex Legends. It harkens back a bit to the core gameplay experience, which can leave it feeling a bit unfinished at times, but ultimately works with a tight-knit map design that’s straight out of old-school Call of Duty.
The maps here have a classic three-lane design and are one of the biggest strengths of XDefiant. With instant respawn times, you’re back in the action in seconds, and there’s always some sort of skirmish at each of the game’s critical points. Whenever a match comes up, you’re constantly on the move with enemies coming from all directions. Of course, this leads to the occasional swearing, and we almost managed to keep those DualSenses, but more often than not, it’s the game’s exciting closed-in feel.
For those who seek and another shooter to sink all your time into, XDefiant is already ready to keep you engaged. From a base game perspective, you have weapons, attachments, and skins that you can unlock by leveling up and completing specific challenges – even the Dedsec faction is locked behind a challenge to earn 700,000 XP. Then you have weekly and daily challenges to get extra XP and of course a big (albeit boring) battle pass to work your way through. It’s nice that you have to grind for your rewards, but XDefiant lacks that satisfying leveling up where several matches can go by without any 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 IP library to the game, along with new seasonal content. It all sounds pretty promising, and Ubisoft has a proven track record of supporting its multiplayer games. Just look at Rainbow Six: Siege or For Honor and you’ll get a glimpse of XDefiant’s potential range.
The biggest problem for us at the moment 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. However, on the first day, we are faced with a rather gray 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? Similarly, we imagine maps set in Renaissance Italy directly from Assassin’s Creed 2 or we can even dream of a map inspired by Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.
If we’re being honest, we’d expect a lot of this to be implemented in post-launch content and purchased skins, so there’s still hope. Currently, however, XDefiant does not appear to be the case really capitalizing on the potential of its premise with the six franchises it currently operates. From a purely aesthetic point of view, it could be any other shooter.
Conclusion
XDefiant is a solid shooter that’s likely to scratch that arcade itch with its fast-paced gunplay, iconic map design, and fan-favorite game modes. It’s the perfect multiplayer shooter to play on the weekend, and we suspect it’ll be home to a few late-night sessions for old-school Call of Duty fans. It’s not exactly a breath of fresh air for the genre that is The Finals, but more like a blast from the past. Is it a CoD killer? No, but if Ubisoft can work its magic and make hell with its multi-franchise content post-launch, then XDefiant could flourish and become a regular staple of the shooter genre.