XDefiant has been taken offline permanently following server deactivation this week. Shortly after the shutdown, Mark Rubin, the game’s lead producer, revealed plans to exit Ubisoft and step away from gaming development entirely.

Rubin, known for his work on early Call of Duty titles and their remasters prior to joining Ubisoft San Francisco’s XDefiant team, shared his farewell via a social media post. He expressed gratitude toward players and collaborators who contributed to the project before Ubisoft San Francisco’s closure.

“This marks a difficult moment for XDefiant supporters and the dedicated team behind it,” Rubin stated. “From casual players to prominent streamers, every community member made an impact during its brief run.”

Initially positioned as Ubisoft’s potential breakout title, XDefiant saw rapid early adoption and corporate backing despite development hurdles. Rubin had previously assured players of ongoing support, making the abrupt closure particularly jarring for fans.

While acknowledging gameplay imperfections, Rubin attributed the title’s decline partly to insufficient promotional efforts post-launch. However, deeper structural challenges proved insurmountable: “Our underlying engine wasn’t built to support our goals, and we lacked the manpower to overhaul it properly,” he explained. “Custom engines have become less advantageous compared to established platforms like Unreal.”

Network instability and unresolved technical limitations further hampered progress, compounded by missing features Rubin viewed as essential for a polished launch. While emphasizing that development teams and Ubisoft leadership acted in good faith, his remarks suggest corporate decisions ultimately constrained the project’s potential.

Concluding his statement, Rubin announced his exit from both Ubisoft and the industry, prioritizing family time over continuing development work. He expressed hope that future creators would “champion player-focused design principles and maintain open dialogues with communities.”