As I sit down to reflect on the gaming landscape of 2023, one title emerges as the undeniable protagonist of disappointment – XDefiant. What was once hailed as the potential “Call of Duty killer” has now become a prolonged tale of delays and dashed expectations. The disappointment surrounding XDefiant’s release, initially slated for August 2023, lingers like an unresolved cliffhanger, leaving me to ponder whether my initial enthusiasm was misplaced.

Okay, maybe I’m being a little dramatic. I am still extremely excited about the game, but as much as I admire what Mark Rubin stands for with this project, I struggle to decide if it’s a little too late or not. You see, in a previous article, I boldly declared XDefiant as the harbinger of a new era in arena first-person shooters. The promise of gameplay mechanics that have otherwise been absent in recent CoDs (such as no squad spawns, red dots on the mini-map etc.), combined with a unique blend of elements from various Ubisoft franchises, fueled my anticipation. Little did I know that this journey would become an exercise in patience, as the release date saw not one, but multiple postponements, extending well into the beginning of 2024.

Draped in the virtual armour of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (MWIII) these past few months, I’ve been reminded of why I fell in love with the multiplayer aspect of Call of Duty in the first place. Before we delve further, let me clarify that when I praise MWIII, it’s purely from a multiplayer perspective. While I did enjoy the campaign and rated it 70/100, I acknowledge and stand with many of the criticisms made towards the game, labelling it essentially as a “minimally reskinned RM200+ expansion on 2022’s Modern Warfare II.”

With that said, the seamless dance of gunplay, perfectly balanced movement, and just-right time-to-kill speeds have created an addicting multiplayer experience, evoking memories of the glory days of Black Ops II. It’s in these moments that I question whether XDefiant’s delayed entrance might actually be a strategic move. Could the decision to withhold the “CoD killer” be a calculated move to avoid clashing with the sensational multiplayer experience offered by the latest iteration of MWIII? Unlikely, but I can’t help but imagine how split the player base would be if XDefiant had been released before MWIII.

While part of me nods in approval at the prospect of avoiding direct competition with a powerhouse like Call of Duty, another part of me wonders if the extended postponement is causing XDefiant to lose momentum. The initial hype that surrounded the game’s announcement will dissipate over time, leaving me concerned that, upon release, XDefiant may find itself stepping onto a stage that’s lost some of its fervour.

In the realm of competitive FPS, timing is everything, and it’s no different for AAA game studios trying to compete with even larger conglomerates. The delay prompts me to ponder whether Ubisoft and Mark Rubin are strategically waiting for the next Call of Duty launch, perhaps hoping for a stumble in its reception. Is XDefiant being positioned as the ‘better alternative’ to a potentially lacklustre CoD release? It’s a delicate dance, and I can’t help but wonder if this waiting game will result in a well-timed entrance or a missed opportunity. Honestly speaking, I don’t think that is the actual case but I’d be lying if didn’t put my tin foil hat on at least once.

As we venture further into 2024, the tale of XDefiant’s postponement continues, leaving me torn between anticipation and concern. Will this prolonged wait be the game’s Achilles’ heel, or is it a calculated move to ensure a triumphant arrival in a gaming landscape hungry for innovation? Only time will reveal the destiny of XDefiant, and until then, the unresolved cliffhanger of its release lingers in the gaming air, leaving us all to ponder the fate of this highly-anticipated contender.”