Free-to-play shooter XDefiant delayed after failing Xbox certification

Ubisoft's free-to-play shooter XDefiant has been delayed after failing to pass certification on both Xbox and PlayStation platforms.

Sean Carey

Published 12 Sep 2023

XDefiant was originally down to launch this summer, but due to the free-to-play shooter failing certification on both Xbox and PlayStation consoles, it now looks like you'll have to wait until October to begin unlocking the XDefiant achievements.

XDefiant delayed after failing to meet certification on Xbox and PlayStation

In a blog post, executive producer Mark Rubin explained the pre-release certification process and that while we could see XDefiant pass certification on both platforms and release before the end of September, an October launch is now looking "likely."

"At the end of July, we started this process, and we got our first results back by mid-August, which was a Not Pass," Rubin wrote. "We realized then that we had more work related to compliance than we had anticipated. If it had passed, then we would have been able to ship at the end of August. But it didn't, and so we have spent the last 3-4 weeks fixing those issues and getting ready to do another submission."

Rubin goes on to say that Ubisoft is gearing up to submit the game to Xbox and PlayStation within the next two weeks, and if XDefiant "passes cleanly," the free-to-play shooter "could be looking at a mid-to-end of September release." However, Rubin notes that there is a "likely scenario where we get a conditional pass, meaning we have to do a day one patch with some final fixes to ensure compliance. If we do need to do a day one patch, then that pushes our date out to early/mid-October."

XDefiant is a 6v6 free-to-play arena shooter that features factions inspired by Tom Clancy franchises such as Splinter Cell, The Division, and Ghost Recon. When it does eventually launch, XDefiant could make its way onto our list of the best free Xbox games if it is worthy.

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Written by Sean Carey

A big fan of Xbox achievements, Sean has committed to playing as many of the best RPGs, racing games, and first-person shooters on and off Xbox Game Pass as possible. Before joining TrueAchievements, Sean earned a degree in journalism from Solent University.