XDefiant

Closing out 2024 before XDefiant closes out its run. It had potential, and I like the combination of disparate IPs and how they mesh together. Also a big shoutout for the team including a bunch of unfinished content planned for future seasons with the final update to get that work out there. Otherwise, it ultimately proved that the skill-based matchmaking conversation was completely overblown, and turns out to be the worst way to introduce new players to your game. The most useful part of this one is its ability to give some great insight into development and monetization practices that are required to keep a game running these days. I had hoped that players would learn from that experience, and more appreciate just how hard it is to make a shooter feel good, but I feel like those facts were glossed over and now the game’s failure has been attributed to “it sucks a good Call of Duty came out this year.” Fact is, XDefiant just never felt good to play. Gunplay wasn’t particularly tight or punchy, the netcode never came together, and the skills never felt entirely balanced/useful/desirable. After a few dozen hours, it’s another unique game that I’m glad I played, but it didn’t leave the kind of impression that will leave me wanting more once it’s gone.