After failing the PlayStation and Xbox console certification tests, XDefiant has been delayed

XDefiant, Ubisoft's planned cross-platform arena shooter, still lacks a firm release date, and we now know why. Producer Mark Rubin announced in a blog post that the game failed platform certification with PlayStation and Xbox, and hence has been postponed from its intended American summer release date. It is currently aiming for a release between mid-September and the middle of October, depending on any necessary day-one fixes. It's worth noting that failing a certification test is quite common in games, but we seldom hear about it since publishers take it into account when establishing a release date long in advance.

Rubin noted in the blog post that the team opted to be honest about their methods with XDefiant, beginning with many beta sessions that allow players to jump into incomplete versions of the game. "These were genuine tests, not just marketing stunts." So, the true answer to when we will release is 'as soon as we can.' And we'll keep you updated as additional information becomes available," he continued. The aforementioned certification and compliance checks are not to be mistaken with a game's quality or flaws, but rather to see if it meets the requirements of a platform. For example, if trophies are correctly unlocked or whether the buddy list is being updated with the correct game status, name, and activity.

Ubisoft appears to have submitted XDefiant for certification at the end of July, with the hope of shipping it by the end of August. However, it failed, and the team has spent the previous three to four weeks correcting the compliance concerns and preparing for another submission. The game is currently in the last stages of development, with the makers hoping to deliver it to first-party platforms within the next two weeks. If it passes 'cleanly,' XDefiant will be available anytime between the middle and end of September. However, if it returns with a 'conditional Pass,' the studio will need to execute a day-one pass to ensure any outstanding compliance issues. This would put the debut date back to early to mid-October.

XDefiant is a free-to-play arena shooter set against a dynamic punk rock backdrop, bringing together gunmen from Ubisoft's famous franchises like as Splinter Cell, Far Cry, Watch Dogs, and others for 6v6 arena battles. Each class has a distinct set of abilities that may assist change the tide on-field, with Echelons being the stealth-based operators who can turn invisible, and the attack-minded Cleaners — from The Division — being able to send out a flying drone that engulfs its route in flames. In my first XDefiant closed beta impressions, I stated that "while its core gameplay is slickly executed, I struggle to see its appeal in the long run," especially given the FPS multiplayer market's saturation with arcade shooters. In addition, the game held an open beta session in June.

XDefiant is now aiming for a mid-September to mid-October release for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X.

Tags: #playstation #xbox #xdefiant