XDefiant review – a derivative shooter lost in the crowd

Free-to-play shooter XDefiant lacks a sense of identity despite its fun firefights. There’s space for an arcadey shooter with Battlefield 2024 and Modern Warfare 3 mismanaging their strengths. But XDefiant doesn’t get there. With factions and abilities inspired by Ubisoft’s stable of games, I hoped it would lean on their past. But instead of Far Cry 6’s makeshift harpoon bow or Splinter Cell’s SC-20K rifle, XDefiant settles for a slate of modern weapons and an attachment festival. When live service games like The Finals and Helldivers 2 continue to break new ground, ‘good enough’ isn’t enough.

XDefiant’s insistence on keeping things simple might also be its greatest strength. With no lore behind why Yara’s revolutionaries are fighting DedSec hackers, it’s an invitation for players to learn about Ubisoft games they might not have paid attention to. Heading back to basics wouldn’t be complete without responsive shooting and slick movement, areas where the game handily delivers.

Sprints feel great and quick respawns aid the fast-paced nature of matches. A higher TTK (time to kill) than Call of Duty means the first person to fire won’t always win a shootout. Failing to register gunshots and an awkward post-slide recovery are minor hitches that can be ironed out with updates. XDefiant can feel like a work in progress, with the lack of a killcam and enemy collision (you can’t walk through allies) being a curious oversight.

XDefiant’s small selection of guns is pretty cookie-cutter in appearance and performance. You get assault rifles like the AK-47 and M4A1, SMGs like the P90, and a bunch of sniper rifles, LMGs, shotguns, and marksman rifles. Guns feel snappy but don’t sound as hefty as Call of Duty’s arsenal and could use some work. Thankfully, you can unlock them in a couple of matches. But if you want to add attachments, an uphill grind awaits you. With weapon XP drip-fed to you at a snail’s pace, I’m discouraged from trying new guns if I want their attachments. I hope a patch greases up this hamster wheel to ensure you’re earning something once every few rounds.

Combat is tense and engaging thanks to faction-specific abilities. The level design is great, with plenty of tight corridors and sightlines across locales inspired by Ubisoft games. XDefiant adds a hero shooter-like spin to its characters, letting you identify them at a glance and account for their abilities. Phantoms opt for defensive skills like a Mag Barrier that allies can shoot through. The Cleaners pack incendiary ammo while the stealthy Echelon can turn invisible or pop a wall hack. And the Libertad from Far Cry 6 are medics with an overpowered ultimate that doubles your health. Since the DedSec faction needs to be unlocked by earning 700k XP or via a purchase, you’ll run into their hacking-focused kit less frequently.

Factions can be swapped like loadouts mid-match, meaning you can’t mentally assign a role to an enemy player. These roles aren’t as distinct as Overwatch’s heroes or the classes in The Finals. XDefiant doesn’t restrict how many players can pick a faction, enabling uneven teams of six snipers with Echelon wall hacks or Libertad healers. Fortunately, ultimate abilities take a while to charge up, meaning that you won’t see five Cleaners with flamethrowers purifying the map or five Phantoms in little bubble shields toting electro-scatter guns.

These factions are let loose in five modes that keep matches lively. While I hope Ubisoft will add a regular Team Deathmatch, Hot Shot is a great alternative that puts a neat spin on the usual Kill Confirmed mode of online shooters. While you still collect points from fallen foes, the top scorers on either team can be promoted to a Hot Shot, with enhanced stats and bonus points on kills. But their position is marked on your radar, turning them into an objective to beat or protect.

Domination and Occupy function as you’d expect and Escort borrows Team Fortress 2’s Payload mode as you defend or halt a walking package. Zone Control pits two teams in a race to capture five successive target zones. Expect more modes with time but at the moment, only Hot Shot attempts to stand out from other gray military shooters. Matches aren’t great at refilling teams when players drop out, resulting in lopsided rounds when this happens. Pair that with the Unranked playlist’s lack of skill-based matchmaking and the outcomes of matches become pretty unpredictable. You’ll run into players of all skill levels but that can work against you when FPS veterans keep sending you to the respawn screen. It’s a breath of fresh air after Call of Duty’s hidden checks and balances system that turns every round into a tense spectacle.

Despite varied factions and excellent maps, XDefiant’s shootouts are let down by a lack of identity and sluggish weapon progression. Outside an emphasis on making skill-based matchmaking optional, the game plays like every shooter from the last decade, leaning into nostalgia over attempting a breakthrough. You only need to look at Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six Siege for a 9-year exercise in fostering a personality. While technical pitfalls can be resolved with seasonal updates, XDefiant needs novelty to sustain a player base. Getting Avatar’s Na’vi or Assassins to contest target zones with sniper rifles might feel off-kilter but nothing’s stopping Ubisoft from using maps and modifiers from different eras and universes.

A largely bug-free experience with minimal latency at launch is a good sign of things to come. XDefiant’s battle pass and paid cosmetics aren’t particularly offensive either. But on day one, Sam Fischer from Splinter Cell and Aiden Pearce from Watch Dogs aren’t here. And neither are their unique weapons. They might arrive with post-launch content drops. Hit registry, balancing woes, and even attachment unlocks can be fixed. But right now, my biggest concern for XDefiant is that it isn’t taking advantage of its heritage.

XDefiant tips and tricks for beginners

Ubisoft’s area shooter can be challenging for new players, especially due to its lack of skill-based matchmaking. With the right approach, you’ll be able to turn the tide against more experienced teams. We have our list of tips and tricks we’ve learned that will help you get proficient in knocking down foes and securing objectives in XDefiant.

Our top tips and tricks

Here’s our top 10 general tips and tricks that will help you get started with its game modes and maps:

Lean into faction synergies with the right abilities.
Use an enemy’s appearance to predict their attacks.
Keep track of ability cooldowns to use them more often.
Use the right aim settings that work for you.
Try strafing while aiming to improve your accuracy.
Slide canceling can catch enemies by surprise.
Customize your weapon according to your playstyle.
Communication is key, try taking objectives together.
Check your minimap but don’t always dive into the action.
Headshots make a big difference.

1. Lean into faction synergies with the right abilities

With all the factions in the game promising different playstyles, it can be hard to settle on a favorite. Experiment with all of them to understand how they work together. For example, pairing the Phantoms’ Mag Barrier with the Cleaners’ Purifier flamethrower can let you contest objectives without putting yourself directly in harm’s way. You’ll find more synergies as you work with allies to secure kills.

2. Use an enemy’s appearance to predict their attacks

Agents from different factions are noticeably different in appearance, even if their hitboxes are similar. This lets you figure out an enemy’s chosen faction from a decent distance. If you aren’t able to figure it out, seeing an activated ability will let you confirm this. Understanding factions isn’t just about knowing what abilities your foes might use. They also convey how a player will respond to combat.

Phantoms have extra health, the Libertad has bonus health regeneration, and the Cleaners have incendiary ammo. This means you’ll have to vary your approach while fighting these characters. For instance, setting a Libertad opponent on fire won’t necessarily knock them out as they have access to healing abilities.

3. Keep track of ability cooldowns to use them more often

On the bottom of your screen, you’ll see a timer that counts down to when you can use your abilities again. While this can take a while, don’t forget to use them. Abilities can give you an edge against an opponent, especially if you pick an offensive faction like the Cleaners, letting you use an Incinerator Drone or Firebomb to engulf an area in flames. You can also help allies with the Libertad’s El Remédio healing canisters and the Phantoms’ Mag Barrier.

4. Use the right aim settings that work for you

Tinkering with the aim settings and firing some rounds in the training range will help you improve your aim. This is critical because a few missed shots can give your opponent an opening to escape and regenerate their health. In modes like Hot Shot where kills matter, this can cost your team the match if it happens frequently.

By adjusting your sensitivity, aim response curve, and dead zone settings, you’ll have better control of your aim. After making some changes, give yourself time to get accustomed to how aiming feels.

5. Try strafing while aiming to improve your accuracy

Speaking of aiming, strafing (moving the character instead of your crosshair) can help you on two fronts. First, it makes you a harder target to hit. And second, it’ll help you rely less on your mouse or right controller stick and give you another axis to aim. Seasoned FPS players already strafe while aiming so this will put you on an even footing with them.

6. Slide canceling can catch enemies by surprise

Yes, XDefiant has slide canceling. Slide by pressing the crouch button and then jump mid-animation to leap higher than usual. This will surprise enemies and let you land a couple of hits first. While Ubisoft might change how this works, it’s worth trying in a server against some foes. It’s particularly useful when you have close-quarters weapons like shotguns and SMGs.

7. Customize your weapon according to your playstyle

Ubisoft takes a page out of Call of Duty’s playbook with its exorbitant attachment system. With benefits and drawbacks provided by each attachment, it can take a while to land on a loadout that feels right to you. But this is time well spent as you will be able to account for your playstyle while crafting your guns. For example, players who prefer landing shots from a distance can manage with a lower sprint to shoot speed in exchange for stability. But a nimble SMG loadout would be severely impaired by such a decision.

8. Communication is key, try taking objectives together

While FPS titles are usually reliant on teamwork and communication, the factions system makes it even more important here. You can rely on your allies to support you with defensive abilities and healing whenever you need it. By calling out for aid, you’ll be able to sustain firefights and contribute in turn. Listening to your allies will also let you flank enemies and catch them by surprise, letting you maximize the returns from offensive abilities and ultimate moves.

9. Check your minimap but don’t always dive into the action

The minimap on the top left is a handy way to keep an eye out for enemies. But remember that Echelon faction members won’t appear here. These will highlight enemies you haven’t seen if they fire their weapons or are hit by an ally. This will keep you aware of the optimal route depending on your loadout. Got a shotgun? Try lurking about in tight corridors.

As for sniper rifle and marksman rifle enthusiasts, try looking for sightlines to track distant threats. Spotting an enemy doesn’t mean you have to rush to their location. You can predict their movements and catch them off-guard instead.

10. Headshots make a big difference

While pretty much every first-person shooter game offers you bonus damage for headshots, I was pleasantly surprised by how effective they are here. Even against the hardened Phantoms faction, I could whittle down health bars quickly if I tried to aim for the head. This only doesn’t work against GSK, due to their passive that nullifies headshots.

Sure, you might miss some shots. But as long as a few of them land, you’ll take enemies down quickly. Considering that weaker weapons like SMGs need a good number of bullets to down a foe, going closer to land headshots is a strategy that could pay off handsomely. But remember that you are vulnerable to such damage too.

✓ At a glance

The Bravo-04 error is related to connection issues with the Ubisoft Connect app or the game client.

To try and fix it you should first check the XDefiant server status. Then, try restarting your game and check your internet connection.

Online games are prone to different connectivity errors, especially in their early days. Ubisoft’s latest fast-paced FPS game is no different, with many encountering error code Bravo-04 that prevents them from playing. Due to the widespread nature of this issue, learning how to fix the error might help you get back into the game.

Potential Bravo-04 error fixes

Error Bravo-04 is likely an issue on Ubisoft’s side and related to the servers, which limits what you can do. The issue may lie with Ubisoft’s servers causing interruption as a result of too many players trying to queue at the same time. There is also a small chance that some of your game or Ubisoft Connect files are corrupted or broken, causing connectivity problems, which we go into below.

First, check the status of XDefiant servers, which we update often if there are major outages. If they are down or under maintenance, there is not much you can do but wait it out. Pay attention to Ubisoft’s social media accounts for updates on when the servers will be back online. If the servers are working normally, please follow the below steps.

1. Check and reset your internet connection

Your internet connection could be the cause of the issue. Check your connection to see if your internet is down. In that case, try restarting your router. If youre using a wi-fi connection, consider switching to ethernet cable for a more stable connection. If that fails, contact your ISP to see what is causing the issue.

2. PC – reset and flush DNS

If you’re playing on PC, you can try resetting and flushing your DNS, which could be blocking your connectivity. Use the following steps:

Type CMD in the Windows search bar to find Command Prompt.
Right-click it and select Run as Administrator.
A window will open. Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
Then, type netsh winsock reset and press Enter.
Lastly, type netsh int ip reset and press Enter.
After that, restart your PC.

Try starting XDefiant again to see if this has solved the issue. If that doesn’t work, you can also try changing your DNS server. Here’s how to do it:

Open the Control Panel and select Network and Internet.
Select Network and Sharing Center.
On this screen, select your active internet connection’s name under Connections, located right under Access type.
Click Properties and then find and double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
Select the Use the following DNS server addresses option.
Under Preferred DNS server input 8.8.8.8.
Below, under Alternate DNS server input 8.8.4.4.
Click OK and close the window, then restart your PC.

3. Console – Reset DNS settings

If you’re playing on console, there’s a similar process to flush reset your DNS settings. Use the following steps to do it:

Go to your console’s Settings menu.
Select Network, then Set Up Internet Connection.
Select your connection type, either wi-fi or LAN.
Set your IP Address setting to Automatic and DHCP Host Name to Do not specify.
Then, change your DNS settings to Manual.
Enter 8.8.8.8 for Primary DNS and 8.8.4.4 for Secondary DNS.
After that, set MTU Settings to Automatic and Proxy Server to Do not use.
Save your settings and restart your console.

4. Repair the game files

If you’re still getting an error, your game files could be corrupted or missing. Fortunately, you can repair them. Launch the Ubisoft Connect app and select XDefiant. Next to the Play button is a button with three dots. Click it and select Verify Files from the pop-up menu. It will take several minutes for the app to scan and repair the game. After that, try launching it again.

5. Reinstall Ubisoft Connect and XDefiant

Lastly, if all else fails, try reinstalling both the Ubisoft Connect app and XDefiant. Make sure to properly uninstall them first. Then, download the launcher and install it again, followed by reinstalling the game.

✓ At a glance

In Season 1, gain seven XDefiant rewards between July 2 to July 30.
Link your Ubisoft and Twitch accounts before watching a participating XDefiant stream.
Earn rewards by watching 1 hour, 3 hours, or 5 hours of a stream. There’s a different set of rewards if you watch a partner streamer.

Ubisoft’s arena shooter promises tight firefights and they’re bringing some sweet rewards along with their Preseason content. You’ll be able to earn Twitch drops for Season 1, letting you grab some neat weapon skins. They’ll ensure that you stand out from your friends and foes in-game. Here’s how you can earn and redeem them.

How to get Twitch drops in Season 1

Season 1’s Twitch Drops start at 10 AM PDT on July 2 and will be available till 11:59 PM PDT on July 29, 2024. Unlike the Preseason, there’s a Twitch Quest this time. To get these drops, here’s what you need to do:

You need to link your Ubisoft account with your Twitch account here.
Watch XDefiant gameplay from any streamer’s Twitch channel from July 2, 2024, for rewards. These are handed out when you watch 1 hour, 3 hours, or 5 hours of a stream. There’s one set of rewards for all XDefiant streams and another set for select partner streamers. Watching a stream for 5 hours will grant you the rewards of the previous tiers. Here’s a list of Ubisoft’s partner streamers. Some supported streamers are SpaceLy and BersGamer.
You can then find these exclusive weapon skins and XP boosts in your Drops and Rewards section. Head to your Twitch inventory and pick ‘Claim Now’ to add them to your game.
Now get into the game and equip these skins on your weapons in-game before a match.

In April 2023, players could access Closed Beta Access Twitch drops like the Violet D50 and MK 20 SSR skins. Ubisoft also offered Violet skins for the M870 and M249 during its Open Session in June 2023. The Preseason drops offered Morganite and Pelagic weapon skins in addition to weapon XP boosters.

All Twitch drop rewards in Season 1

Season 1 brings new Twitch drops to the table. Unlike the Preseason, there’s only one set of drops instead of weekly rewards. Here are all the rewards you can look forward to:

Season 1 Challenge Reward

Watch 1 hour of any XDefiant stream Battle Pass XP Booster for 1 hour

Watch 3 hours of any XDefiant stream Avalanche SVD Skin

Watch 5 hours of any XDefiant stream Shamrock M870 Skin

Watch 1 hour of an XDefiant partner stream Extraction RPK-74 Skin

Watch 3 hours of an XDefiant partner stream Extraction Kaptan Skin

Watch 5 hours of an XDefiant partner stream Extraction Stark Skin

Purchase 2 Tier 1 subs for an XDefiant partner Viral Character Skin

Expired Twitch drops

XDefiant’s Preseason started on May 21, 2024. Here’s a list of all the free rewards you could earn back then:

Pump Action Victory Animation
Weapon XP boosters
Morganite M4A1 Weapon Skin
Violet M4A1 Weapon Skin
Morganite M9 Weapon Skin
Violet Vector .45 ACP Weapon Skin
Morganite M870 Weapon Skin
Ember M16A4 Weapon Skin
Pelagic M9 Weapon Skin
Ember Vector .45 Weapon Skin
Disruption M60 Weapon Skin
Eruption MDR Weapon Skin
Amber M44 Weapon Skin
Pelagic Vector .45 ACP Weapon Skin

Are the rewards worth it?

Yes, these Twitch drops are worth the effort. Watching supported streams for 5 hours will let you unlock a total of five weapon skins and one battle pass XP booster. While that can take a while, you’ve got a whole month to earn them. Pair that with unique in-game rewards via redeem codes and you’ll get a headstart against your friends when it comes to showing off the best gear. Taking a look at professional live streams will also help you understand the game’s combat.

What if your Twitch drops aren’t working?

Some players on Reddit weren’t able to earn rewards in-game via Twitch drops. One potential fix is to disconnect your Twitch account from your Ubisoft account before reconnecting them together. This resolved the problem for some users as the items appeared in their inventory after some time.