Ubisoft FPS XDefiant has been delayed after failing console certification tests

Ubisoft has delayed XDefiant’s release after the free-to-play FPS failed Microsoft’s and Sony’s console certification tests.

While the game was previously targeting a summer launch, executive producer Mark Rubin said in an update published on Wednesday that an October release now appears “likely” as additional work is required to ensure the game meets the platform holders’ requirements.

The hold-up in releasing the game is due to the discovery of unspecified compliance bugs, rather than any gameplay issues, he said.

“Compliance bugs are ones that relate to the systems and overall experience that the first parties expect from games on their platform. (e.g., Are trophies being properly tracked, is my friend’s list being properly updated with game status, etc.),” Rubin wrote.

He said Ubisoft San Francisco was planning to submit an updated version of XDefiant for certification in the next couple of weeks with a view to potentially releasing the game this month.

“There is however a likely scenario where we get a conditional Pass meaning we have to do a Day 1 patch with some final fixes to ensure compliance. If we do need to do a Day 1 patch, then that pushes our date out to early/mid-October.”

The game was initially revealed in July 2021 as Tom Clancy’s XDefiant. At the time, it only included factions from Tom Clancy franchises Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon and The Division.

Further reading

Ubisoft’s free-to-play FPS XDefiant will launch this summer

An open session will take place on all formats later in June

But in March 2022, Ubisoft announced that it was dropping the Tom Clancy branding and introducing additional factions from its wider catalogue of IP, including Far Cry.

XDefiant will be released for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One.