After numerous delays, XDefiant is finally landing this week and you can preload the game on all platforms right now. We've got file sizes for all platforms as well as PC specs for the best experience straight off the bat.
We've been waiting for Ubisoft's free-to-play FPS to launch since last year, and after a number of delays, the developer finally dropped the release date bomb at the start of the month – announcing it'd be going live in a matter of weeks.
XDefiant has been on our radar since it was first announced in July 2021 and prospective players even got a chance to try out the game ahead of release thanks to a number of playtests on PC, which culminated in a couple of open betas that gave people on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S a chance to hop into the action.
XDefiant: in a nutshell
What is it? A free-to-play, first-person arena shooter
Initially targeting a summer 2023 launch, certification issues saw the release date get pushed back to mid-to-end of September. That didn't pan out either; after a PC playtest in September, the developer announced an indefinite delay to address "some inconsistencies with the game experience" – although rumour has it that it was execs at Ubisoft that wanted XDefiant to ape Call of Duty that were ultimately responsible for the game missing a number of internal targets.
That's all firmly behind us now though, with the XDefiant release happening this week. Here's everything you need to know including when you can start playing, and more details on the gameplay – with the likes of Fortnite and Warzone reigning supreme, and a ton of hero shooters to boot (Overwatch 2, Valorant, and Apex Legends to name a few), XDefiant has its work cut out for it if it wants to make an impact. Although the massive success of Helldivers 2 has shown us that it's not impossible.
Xdefiant release date and preload
After delays upon delays, we're finally seeing XDefiant release on Tuesday, May 21. As for the XDefiant release time, that'll be at 6pm BST / 1pm EDT / 10am PST.
Preloading for the game went live last week on all platforms so there's still time preload XDefiant now so you can jump straight in tomorrow. The title was set to come to PS4 and Xbox One post-launch but plans for a last-gen release seem to have been scrapped in order to ensure "a consistent standard of quality" – that comes courtesy of a tweet from the game's official Twitter account earlier this month.
If you want to preload XDefiant before the game drops, you can head to its page on Xbox and PlayStation and simply hit download. Over on PC, it won't be available on Steam so instead, you'll need to head to Ubisoft Connect and download the game there. If you're wondering how much space you need to install the game, here are the XDefiant file sizes for all platforms:
Yes, XDefiant is cross-platform so PC, PS5, and Xbox players can all dive in and play with one another when the game releases. There's already been a chance to check out how XDefiant cross-platform play functions in the wild, with the crossplay beta. Any progression from your time in the beta will not carry over to the main game, but XDefiant Twitch Drops earned during the beta period will be redeemable for the M870 'Violet' Weapon Skin and M249 'Violet' Weapon Skin.
XDefiant crossplay progression is also supported (as with a number of other Ubisoft games), via Ubisoft Connect – which you need to play the game anyway.
XDefiant PC specs
Ubisoft has listed Defiant PC specs on the game's website with options for minimum, recommended, enthusiast and ultra settings – all of which you can check out in the handy graphic below.
As touched on in the post, XDefiant will support DX11 and DX12, NVIDIA Reflex (for low latency), widescreen, and an uncapped frame rate.
In regards to the max level that players will be on the hunt for, this number is currently set to 100, with players not being able to prestige afterwards.
No, XDefiant does not currently have a Battle Royale mode. Considering this subgenre has become popular with games like PUBG, Apex Legends, Fortnite, and Call of Duty: Warzone, some players naturally hoped to see XDefiant follow suit.
The XDefiant preload window opened on May 16th, 2024 at 10 AM PT / 6 PM BST / 1 PM ET, five days before the release date. This means players had the ability to download the game ahead of its launch on May 21st, 2024.
The game releases on the 21st, it says it is releasing on the 16th because the game is open for preload on the 16th, below are the releases for individual timezones. What platforms is the game releasing on? The game is releasing on the PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Ubisoft Connect on PC.
Put simply: Yes, XDefiant is a free-to-play game. You can download the game on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or PC right now and jump into some matches without paying a dime. However, like similar free live service games, such as Fortnite or Apex Legends, XDefiant is monetized via microtransactions.
Fortunately, as of today, XDefiant now has Team Deathmatch. Team Deathmatch is a staple of the multiplayer shooter genre. The idea is simple, you put together two teams on opposing sides and you let them fight it out, all while working together and communicating to win rounds.
With max level being 100 for the time being, players will want to know that no, you cannot prestige once you hit this plateau in XDefiant. This will likely change when the first season officially releases in a few weeks, but we'll be sure to let you know.
With the addition of TDM, Ubisoft's first-person shooter now has six game modes in total: Domination, HotShot, Occupy, Zone Control, and Escort. Launched in May 2024, XDefiant is a free-to-play FPS game.
What is the max level cap? Now that Season 4 is out, the max level in Modern Warfare 3 goes from Rank 55 to Rank 850 thanks to the Prestige mechanic. In Season 1, players could only reach Rank 250. In Season 2, it was extended to 450, and Season 3 bumped it up to 650.
No, XDefiant will not have a Battle Royale Mode upon its launch. It is very unlikely that we will see Battle Royale mode added in the game's future. Developers have explained that they will not be bringing this mode to XDefiant, and they will be solely focusing on an arena-style experience.
So, SnD was on the schedule but for much further down the road. We increased the priority to get it out as fast as we could but it still won't be available at launch. That being said, in the future we would like to explore something along the lines of what you suggested.
The XDefiant release date and time is May 21, 2024, at 10 AM PT. Here is a list of all the release dates and times for the global launch across different regions. The launch week starts on May 16, 2024, featuring a series of events every day leading up to the game's official release.
One of the most common reasons for loading screen problems is server-related issues. If the game's servers are down or experiencing high traffic, it can result in slow loading times or the game getting stuck on the loading screen.
Put simply: Yes, XDefiant is a free-to-play game. You can download the game on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or PC right now and jump into some matches without paying a dime. However, like similar free live service games, such as Fortnite or Apex Legends, XDefiant is monetized via microtransactions.
Introduction: My name is Margart Wisoky, I am a gorgeous, shiny, successful, beautiful, adventurous, excited, pleasant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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