After teasing a new shooter in the “Tom Clancy” universe, Ubisoft has now released the first trailer for xDefiant. However, it has not been well received; many users have criticized it and a large part of the fanbase apparently wished for something completely different.
This is the situation:
- Ubisoft teased a new Tom Clancy shooter on Monday, July 19, that looked like a mix of Division and CoD.
- Users speculated on what it could be, and many hoped for a new installment of Splinter Cell.
- At 8:00 PM, the trailer was released.
- Just a few hours later, the like counter was not even at 8,000 likes, while there were over 10,000 dislikes.
What kind of shooter is this? xDefiant is a kind of spin-off from several games in the Tom Clancy universe. The free-to-play shooter is designed for PvP, and you apparently play in teams against other players.
You can choose characters from different factions that you know from other games: Outcasts and Cleaners from The Division, Wolves from Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, and Echelon from Splinter Cell. Each faction takes on a different role:
- Wolves are the tanks
- Cleaners are attackers
- Echelon play as support
- Outcasts heal the team
Characters can be customized and have various abilities and weapons. You have access to stealth devices, grenades, weapon attachments, and ultimate abilities. Overall, gameplay-wise, it vaguely resembles an arcade version of Rainbow Six Siege.
With its various factions, xDefiant is apparently the project that was previously leaked under the name “Battlecat”. We have embedded the trailer for you here:
How is xDefiant being received? The trailer has been uploaded on various channels by Ubisoft itself. However, the majority of videos have more dislikes, and in the best-case scenario, there is a tie (as of July 20 at 2:00 PM):
- official channel: 3,966 upvotes to 4,874 downvotes
- Ubisoft North America: 7,882 upvotes to 10,430 downvotes
- Ubisoft Germany: 364 upvotes to 321 downvotes
One of the biggest criticisms is that fans apparently wished for a new Splinter Cell installment. The last part of the series, Blacklist, was released in 2013. But the gameplay and xDefiant itself are also being criticized.
“Didn’t know Tom Clancy wrote about clowns”
What is being criticized: Users are complaining about the branding with Tom Clancy. The author is known for his books that tell of military operations and special forces. He is seen as the go-to for thrillers and action with military backgrounds.
Games featuring his name, such as Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, or Splinter Cell, often carry this idea of military and realism. However, xDefiant appears to want to be more wild and open, placing greater emphasis on fun and customization.
The playable characters wear colorful outfits, fight with flamethrowers and tasers, drones, and stealth devices. YouTube user Rogue AI commented: “I didn’t know Tom Clancy wrote books about clowns” (via YouTube.com).
In particular, the label seems to be becoming a liability for the game before its release.
- User Uncle Doggo notes: “If they hadn’t slapped ‘Tom Clancy’ on it, it might be better received” (via YouTube.com).
- From Gavalant says: “I could honestly accept it better if it didn’t carry the ‘Tom Clancy’ brand” (via YouTube.com).
What is being received well? Some users seem undeterred by the name and presentation and praise what has been shown to them. Reddit user Techboah writes: “I’m honest, the gameplay looks fun, not innovative or unique, but if it can provide free competition to CoD, I’m in. And it’s free, so I lose nothing by trying it” (via reddit.com).
Other users agree and compare xDefiant to older shooters like Dirty Bomb or Brink. They say: If the game is fun and stays free, it would certainly be worth a try.
When can I play it myself? The first closed beta for the PC starts on August 5 in the USA and Canada. We do not yet know when you can play here, but there will be further tests and you can register on the official website (via Ubisoft.com).
Once xDefiant officially launches, you can play it on PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. An official release date is still pending.
Recently, Ubisoft faced several setbacks regarding releases. Originally, two new games were supposed to be released soon, but will now come later:
Ubisoft is delaying two important titles again – Rainbow Six not until 2022
