XDefiant is expected around the corner, in particular thanks to its status as a free-to-play FPS. The problem is that internally, everything is obviously not going as planned. But then, really not.
This year, Ubisoft plans to pull out all the stops with XDefiant. A free multiplayer FPS that promises wild games, even going so far as to mix Overwatch and Call of Duty. The problem is that it has undergone a significant number of postponements, and it still does not appear. Technically, it should see the light of day soon. However, it seems compromised with what we have just learned from one of the minds behind the project. Moreover, the situation of the team in control of the game seems truly worrying.
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XDefiant worries many players
Some context is needed before continuing. A few days ago, the well-informed insider Tom Henderson contacted Ubisoft employees about XDefiant. They remained anonymous, but the results are clear: since its announcement in 2021, XDefiant has reportedly missed several internally targeted release dates. From what we understood, the ambitions of the executives were too great. This is notably due to the feedback from players, who did not hesitate to praise the game. So obviously, there was a delay in development. But that's not all.
Generally speaking, developers were frustrated by executives' desire to resemble Call of Duty. The consequences were direct, the construction site was delayed, and they didn't like it. Following the insider's intervention, Mark Rubin, executive producer of XDefiant, took to Twitter to explain. For him, the postponement of the title is absolutely not due to new features or anything else. The fault is placed on the numerous technical problems from which the game suffers. He even denies the fact that there is a desire to continue the aura of CoD.
In itself, we already knew that XDefiant suffered from several technical issues. Since November 2023, we have clearly understood that this has a considerable impact on development. That said, obviously, it's not only because of this that the game finds itself in turmoil. InsiderGaming explains that it has additional information regarding the working conditions of the team behind the free FPS. And that's really not reassuring.
Toxic environment, crunch, the results are grim
Insider Gaming's report doesn't just mention a delay in development due to a desire to do it “like Call of Duty”. We are informed that most of the developers have given a nickname to the executives and the Lead Team: “The Boys Club”. Initially, it only concerned a few individuals, but over the years, and in particular since 2022, it has grown, and above all, its meaning has become more serious. For good reason, this group of a dozen people would be responsible for a toxic work environment, crunch and the departure of several employees.
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These sources, who remained anonymous, speak of lacking ethics, unpleasant behavior and an oversized ego that led to the creation of a harmful workspace. “The Boys Club is a closed group of sheltered people who think they are better than everyone else and do whatever they want without any repercussions”says a developer. “There is a member who has a history of treating people extremely poorly, with a staggering number of HR reports”explains another.
As you will have understood, the situation seems really problematic. Obviously, this has repercussions on XDefiant. Obviously, we shouldn't expect a release for the end of March 2024. We will know more about the status of the game in the coming weeks. At least that's what Mark Rubin said. One thing is certain, however, the free FPS is not canceled, but its creation is not done with joy and good humor. We hope that conditions will improve, whether at Ubisoft or throughout the industry.