XDefiant generated excitement during an open beta in June, outperforming Call of Duty on Twitch and earning positive reviews from players. Despite comparisons to Call of Duty, Ubisoft's Executive Producer, Mark Rubin, downplayed direct competition, stating that XDefiant caters to those who seek a Call of Duty-like experience.
Initially, XDefiant had an advantage, with a scheduled release date of "late summer" compared to MW3's worldwide release on November 10. However, delays have pushed XDefiant's launch closer to the MW3 beta dates, causing concern among players.
On September 11, Rubin provided an update on XDefiant's development, revealing that the game did not pass the submission process in late July. The team is working on resubmitting the game, with results determining a release date in mid-to-late September or early to mid-October.
MW3's private beta starts on October 6, followed by an open beta from October 14-16. XDefiant players and industry observers have expressed worries about releasing the game during the MW3 beta, questioning the decision's wisdom.
Call of Duty reporter Keshav Bhat and Warzone content creator FaZe Swagg both expressed concerns about XDefiant's timing, with Swagg stating it's "not smart on their part." Call of Duty community member RaidAway added that while XDefiant claims not to be a competitor to Call of Duty, it may inadvertently affect the game's initial reception.
The coming months will reveal whether Ubisoft's XDefiant can carve out its niche in the FPS genre or if it will struggle to gain traction amidst the MW3 release.
