XDefiant, Ubisoft’s first-person arena shooter, is set to release its Season 2 on September 25. The new season will introduce significant changes, including a new faction, game mode, weapons, maps, and private matches, alongside ongoing efforts to improve the game’s technical performance. Here’s a look at the top updates:
Key points of XDefiant’s Season 2
New Faction: The Highwaymen
Inspired by Far Cry: New Dawn’s Hope County survivors, the Highwaymen join XDefiant with fast-paced, high-damage combat. Their abilities include the M79 Grenade Launcher and Scrap Turret, along with the Revved passive trait, which enhances fire and reload speed after consecutive kills. The faction’s ultimate weapon is the Saw Launcher, effective in close-quarter battles.
New content and more
Players can unlock three new weapons in the Battle Pass:
- PP19 SMG: Focuses on damage and accuracy, featuring the highest headshot multiplier among submachine guns.
- L86 LSW: A balance between assault rifles and light machine guns, providing faster movement at the cost of damage.
- SPAS-12: A semi-automatic shotgun capable of one-shot kills, useful for close combat situations.
Set to launch later in the season, Bomb is an arena-style mode where one team plants a bomb at designated sites, while the opposing team works to defuse it. With no respawns and a one-life-per-round rule, the mode emphasizes strategy over reliance on faction abilities.
Responding to community requests, XDefiant will soon allow players to create private matches. Gamers can customize the map, mode, and party size, making it possible to host smaller matches like 1v1 or 2v2.
Additionally, the season will introduce new maps, starting with Waterfront, based on Hope County, Montana. The map favors long- to medium-range gameplay, while two more maps, Signal and Air & Space, are set to follow.
XDefiant Developers Address Roadmap for Year 1
In a recent blog post, Ubisoft addressed concerns about XDefiant’s future, refuting rumors of the game’s decline. The developers acknowledged areas needing improvement, such as network performance and progression of content. The developers also assured players that Ubisoft is committed to enhancing the game.
The team shared that they have made progress in enhancing Netcode and Hitreg, but there is more work to be done. To tackle these challenges, Ubisoft has added specialist engineers to the team. Efforts are underway to address this by the end of Season 2, although exact timelines are still being worked out due to the complexity of the task.
In response to rumors about the game’s potential closure, Ubisoft reassured the community that XDefiant is not “dying”. The developers acknowledged ongoing areas for improvement but stressed that the game is doing well, with Ubisoft providing additional resources to help meet player expectations. The team remains focused on addressing community concerns and delivering new content.
Looking ahead, the developers shared the Year 1 Roadmap, which outlines upcoming content and features, including a major event planned for Season 4. Some of this content may shift in terms of timing, but regular updates will be provided to keep players informed. The team also reminded fans to tune in to the Season 2 reveal event on September 18.
The post ended with a message of gratitude for the support from the community, expressing excitement for what’s to come in XDefiant’s future.
As always, remember to follow us on our social media (e.g., Threads, X (Twitter), YouTube and Facebook) to keep up with the latest news.
