Is XDefiant cross-platform?

By Jesse Lennox May 21, 2024

An XDefiant soldier looking at an explosion. — Ubisoft

Ubisoft’s latest shooter is looking to break into the very competitive free-to-play market with XDefiant. This is a third-party studio that very rarely releases any of its games on a single platform, and a multiplayer shooter like this needs to be available in as many places as possible to succeed. However, if it doesn’t have cross-platform support, then it might as well be exclusive since the player base will be split regardless.

Has XDefiant made the critical error of not having any cross-platform support, or can you pick up this game knowing you will be able to find a match easily? Let’s find out.

Is XDefiant cross-platform?

Yes, XDefiant is thankfully fully cross-platform between PC, Xbox Series X, and PlayStation 5. That makes it all the easier to convince a friend to give it a try since it costs nothing and you can all play together even if you don’t have the same console. You also have the option to turn off cross-play if you prefer to stick to only matching up against others on your system. A future update is also planned to allow console players to exclude PC players from cross-play to remove any advantages they may have using keyboard and mouse over controllers.

Even better, cross-progression is also available between each platform so you can start your account on one system and take that progress to another without having to start over. This is done by linking your Ubisoft account to your PSN or Xbox account to freely move between them.

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Gaming

Is XDefiant free?

XDefiant

XDefiant is a compelling first-person shooter that Ubisoft has positioned as a direct competitor to games like Call of Duty, and it seems to be paying off so far with plenty of buzz about the game. Now that it's available for everyone to dive into, excitement is at an all-time high, so it makes sense that you may be wondering what the hype is all about. Of course, with game prices getting so expensive these days, you may also be wondering whether it's going to cost you to check out XDefiant. We've got some good news for you below.
Is XDefiant free?
Put simply: Yes, XDefiant is a free-to-play game. You can download the game on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or PC right now and jump into some matches without paying a dime.

However, like similar free live service games, such as Fortnite or Apex Legends, XDefiant is monetized via microtransactions. This means you can purchase things like character and weapon skins, animations, and more using real money — though Ubisoft has promised that these are purely cosmetic and will never grant a competitive advantage to players who buy them.

Gaming

Is Rust cross-platform?

A player firing an assault rifle in Rust

Rust is one of the unique gaming experiences out there -- you wake up naked on a beach, scavenge for tools, build a home for yourself and your friends, and then watch that base be pummeled by rockets as another group of players destroys everything you've worked so hard for. One of the most popular survival games on the market, Rust is a brutal game, and playing it with friends makes the ups and downs of a server lifecycle bearable.

If you're looking to jump onto a Rust server with a buddy, you'll want to come prepared. Here's what you need to know about crossplay and Rust.
Is Rust cross-platform?
Rust is available on most major gaming platforms, but it isn't entirely cross-platform. Players on consoles -- PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One -- are able to play with each other, but PC players are in a completely separate world.

Gaming

Call of Duty competitor XDefiant is finally coming out this month

A character in XDefiant

Ubisoft's XDefiant, a first-person shooter meant to take on the likes of Call of Duty, will finally get a wide release and enter its Preseason on May 21.

Ubisoft San Francisco announced XDefiant in July 2021 and has held several rounds of testing for the game since then. It's a 6v6 competitive shooter being worked on by former Call of Duty developers, where the main hook is that each faction is based on a Ubisoft franchise. Series like Ghost Recon, Splinter Cell, The Division, Far Cry, and Watch Dogs are all represented here. After years of testing, Ubisoft initially promised a wide release for XDefiant sometime around September or October of 2023, but delayed the game after a public test session.