Can XDefiant Stand Out in the Oversaturated Arena Shooter Market?
In the ever-evolving landscape of multiplayer shooters, breaking through the noise and carving a unique niche is an uphill battle. With everyone striving to be the next Call of Duty or Apex Legends, the "free-to-play" model is losing its allure for new IPs – unless you’re a seasoned publisher like Ubisoft. Their upcoming arena shooter, XDefiant, initially slipped my radar until I received a closed beta access email. Promising a fast-paced 6v6 experience featuring gunmen from iconic Ubisoft franchises like Splinter Cell and Far Cry, XDefiant, on paper, seemed to have all the right ingredients. However, after spending a few hours in the ongoing closed beta, I’m not entirely convinced.
A Fast-Paced Experience with Familiar Mechanics
XDefiant undoubtedly delivers on its promise of a high-octane experience, fueled by rapid respawns that keep you constantly engaged in the heart of the action. This is further bolstered by a dynamic class switching system, reminiscent of Overwatch, allowing you to seamlessly switch factions mid-match to turn the tide of battle. Weapon loadouts offer a level of customization, granting players flexibility beyond their initial selection. While the closed beta experience was marred by some technical hiccups, including long matchmaking times, micro-stutters, and loading issues, these are expected imperfections in a work-in-progress product.
Five Factions, Familiar Roles, and an Unbalanced Meta
XDefiant currently features five distinct factions, each contributing a unique gameplay experience to the 6v6 matches:
- Cleaners (The Division): These attack-minded pyromaniacs wield incendiary rounds and a flame-spitting drone, offering both direct damage and area of effect control.
- Phantoms (Ghost Recon): Equipped with shields, Phantoms serve as the tank class, absorbing enemy fire and protecting their teammates.
- Libertard (Far Cry 6): Independent medics with self-healing capabilities and tools to keep their squad alive, Libertards offer a more self-sufficient and aggressive playstyle.
- Echelons (Splinter Cell): These stealth-based operators can briefly turn invisible and remain undetected on the enemy minimap.
- DedSec (Watch Dogs): While unavailable in the closed beta, these cyber attackers deploy a Spider Bot that stuns enemies, potentially adding a tactical twist to the gameplay.
While the faction roster offers unique abilities and playstyles, the current meta seems to favor certain factions, particularly Libertards, due to their straightforward kit and self-sufficiency. The lack of a balanced meta might lead to a repetitive experience as players gravitate towards the most effective options, sacrificing diversity and strategic depth.
Gunplay and Movement Feel Familiar, But Lack Depth
XDefiant’s gunplay feels solid, with a satisfyingly robust feel, albeit with an unusual recoil pattern that encourages quick bursts instead of continuous spraying. Movement is fluid, mirroring the style of Apex Legends, allowing for swift slides and maneuvers across the map, although vaulting over obstacles feels somewhat clunky.
The Ultra meter, a mechanic reminiscent of ultimate abilities in Valorant and Overwatch, adds an extra layer of strategic depth. These powerful abilities, once charged to 100%, can significantly shift the balance of a fight. For example, Cleaners gain access to a flamethrower, while Echelons can reveal the locations of all enemies on the map, offering both offensive and tactical advantages.
Repetitive Game Modes and a Lack of Originality
While XDefiant incorporates a fast-paced and engaging core gameplay loop, the available game modes lack originality and might feel derivative to seasoned FPS players. Escort, for example, shares striking similarities with Overwatch’s implementation, with your team pushing a giant robot to a delivery point through checkpoints. Other modes like Occupy, Zone Control, and Domination are slightly tweaked variations of the standard point-capture system, relying heavily on familiar mechanics rather than introducing novel gameplay elements.
An Easy-to-Use Customization System with a Familiar Battle Pass
XDefiant’s weapon customization system is intuitive and straightforward, offering a clear UI for swapping attachments and monitoring their impact on weapon stats. The game draws inspiration from Battlefield’s system, enabling players to unlock attachments and augmentations by leveling up weapons through usage. However, the battle pass system remains a key component of the free-to-play model, offering cosmetic customization for operators and weapons, including skins, with a familiar structure and visual elements.
XDefiant’s Future: A Question of Identity and Substance
Despite its polished core gameplay, XDefiant struggles to establish a distinct personality or a compelling reason for players to stick around in the long run. In a market already crowded with dynamic arcade shooters, it feels like an unnecessary addition, a flavorless snack quickly forgotten after consumption.
While the visually impressive maps are a positive point, the lack of innovative game modes and limited faction diversity might lead to a sense of stagnation. Ubisoft’s plans to introduce new factions every three months could potentially inject a much-needed element of freshness and variety into the game’s formula. The addition of a Assassin’s Creed character with their signature stealth capabilities could be a game-changer, adding a unique flavor to the existing roster.
Ultimately, XDefiant’s success hinges on its ability to distinguish itself from the existing competition and offer a compelling and engaging experience that resonates with players beyond its initial novelty. As the game moves towards launch, Ubisoft needs to focus on adding more substance, introducing fresh and innovative game modes, and promoting a balanced and diverse meta to ensure XDefiant leaves a lasting mark in the crowded arena shooter landscape.
