XDefiant Is Suffering From a Recent Helldivers 2 Problem, but Ubisoft Will Struggle to Fix It Like Arrowhead Did
Ubisoft's attempts to revive XDefiant in the same style as Arrowhead may not be the best course of action for the studio unless it makes a few crucial changes.
Ubisoft’s XDefiant has struggled to stay relevant among a number of team-based tactical shooters despite its promising gameplay loop that seeks to bring the best of Ubisoft to the battlefield. The game has struggled to maintain its player count despite a gameplay loop that pits factions from some of Ubisoft’s most popular franchises like Splinter Cell, Watch Dogs, and Far Cry.
Each faction in the game brings something unique to the table, creating the scope for exciting and unique matches for players to enjoy. Factions are customizable, allowing players to create combinations that could, in theory, allow XDefiant to be among the best shooters around in terms of variety and freedom of expression for its players.
XDefiant’s Rough Patch Keeps Going
XDefiant has had a tough time ever since its release, with players finding various complaints that have been detrimental to the experience that Ubisoft had promised. From finding its game modes repetitive to baffling decisions on its updates, the game has not been performing as well as Ubisoft and producer Mark Rubin may have hoped.
SUGGESTED: XDefiant’s Player Count Dropping Is Nothing but Ubisoft’s Fault, as Fans Pile On
Its situation has resulted in a rapidly declining player count that Ubisoft has been unable to address. It’s a situation reminiscent of Helldivers 2‘s recent woes with stagnancy in the game. However, Arrowhead Game Studios’ efforts to revive interest in its flagship title have been largely successful in the wake of its Escalation of Freedom update – something that Ubisoft would hope to replicate for XDefiant.
Can Ubisoft Turn Things Around for XDefiant?
Unlike Arrowhead, which generated a lot of hype around a recent Major Order to improve its player count ahead of its latest updates, Ubisoft may have a hard time bringing its players back into action with XDefiant.
SUGGESTED: XDefiant Update Seemingly Made a Faction Far Better Than It Deserves to Be
Similar to Helldivers 2’s Anti-Tank Mine Major Order to encourage players to meet challenges for unique rewards, XDefiant players are having a hard time achieving any objectives that Ubisoft sets for them on account of a distinct lack of interest in the game, which is exemplified by the Reddit post below.
Although Arrowhead’s requirements were a lot harder to achieve, a crucial area in which the studio has managed to surpass Ubisoft is in its presentation and the community it has managed to build around Helldivers 2 – a feat that Ubisoft is struggling to achieve with its title.
Many players were also quick to point out how one faction in the game has been given an unfair advantage over others, making matches difficult for players who choose other options in combat.
Balancing issues aside, many players agree that Ubisoft’s refusal to address their complaints has led to people moving on to other titles – a problem that Helldivers 2 did not have to face on account of a loyal player base who found its gameplay addictive enough to stick with it despite the lack of new content.
Ubisoft faces an uphill battle if it aims to put XDefiant back on the map with future updates.
Perhaps the studio could choose to learn from Arrowhead’s success in its attempt to bring the game back into the good graces of its players.
