Ubisoft Says XDefiant Will Not Include ‘Pay-to-Win Mechanics’

Ubisoft has made an official statement revealing how microtransactions will work in XDefiant. With the launch of XDefiant coming soon, Ubisoft is eager to quell any concerns fans may have about the upcoming free-to-play multiplayer shooter.

XDefiant is a class-based shooter representing Ubisoft’s attempts to enter the free-to-play live-service genre. The game, originally titled Tom Clancy’s XDefiant, has been in the works since 2021 and faced a turbulent start as little more was announced regarding the title. “Tom Clancy” was eventually dropped from the name, as a way to make it clear that XDefiant was growing beyond the world of Tom Clancy and pulling characters and factions from other franchises under Ubisoft’s belt such as Watch_Dogs and Far Cry 6. In more recent times, XDefiant has been hit with a series of delays, owing to a variety of reasons that to some seemed to portent an unfortunate precedent for the game before it was even out.

With XDefiant‘s preseason set to launch soon, Ubisoft has posted a statement on its website, stating that XDefiant will not contain any pay-to-win features. Any feature that would impact gameplay that can be purchased can also be earned just through playing the game. While microtransactions for customization items will be present, as customization will be “key” to the XDefiant experience, players can also choose to unlock content by completing matches and challenges, meaning that even losing games can net players rewards. Ubisoft ultimately wants to reward the time being put into the game by giving something back to gamers through free Battle Pass rewards, Daily & Weekly challenges, weapon mastery, and community participation rewards such as Twitch drops and in-game events. Gamers who wish to spend money on a weapon skin they enjoy or the Premium Battle Pass will be able to do so, but it will not confer a mechanical advantage to them.

Ubisoft Claims XDefiant Will Include No Pay-To-Win Mechanics

Microtransactions are in many corners of the contemporary gaming industry, and a frequent source of contention within it. Yet as time goes on, they only become more and more popular. Their effectiveness is apparent, however, as reports have shown that Ubisoft earned more from microtransactions than digital game sales in the past. XDefiant will naturally include microtransactions, as being a free-to-play title it needs to draw in revenue, but Ubisoft has boldly pledged that any microtransactions for XDefiant that could offer any mechanical differences will be achievable through playing the game itself, with the primary focus of the unlocks & in-game purchases being:

• Character Skins
• Weapon Skins
• MVP Player Animations
• Player Cards
• Emoji Packs

Ubisoft closes this statement with a promise that it will listen to feedback and constantly evaluate the state of the game to deliver a “fair and engaging” experience for the players. The multiplayer FPS genre is already dominated by a lot of powerhouses, and it’s clear Ubisoft is handling XDefiant with respect and care following a rocky start. Its approach isn’t too surprising, considering it is believed that XDefiant could be Ubisoft’s answer to finally challenge the FPS behemoth that is Call of Duty. Only time will be able to tell if this is the case, as the preseason for XDefiant starts on May 21 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

XDefiant

Ubisoft’s XDefiant is an online PvP shooter that focuses on fast-paced team-based gameplay. Taking inspiration from the publisher’s popular IPs, the game features factions and characters that represent franchises like Splinter Cell and Far Cry. Available on most modern systems, XDefiant is a free-to-play project.

Released

May 21, 2024

Developer(s)

Ubisoft San Francisco