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Ubisoft’s upcoming shooterXDefianthas been delayed after the title failed to pass certification on both Xbox and PlayStation platforms. The title had an original release window of late Summer 2023 but, this has now been changed after the run-in with the certification board.
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A new release window now relies on Sony and Microsoft giving XDefiant a pass in the next two weeks, If the platform holders do it will be released in September, but later than anticipated. More likely than not, however, If a day-one update is required to fix the issues that led to the failed certification,XDefiantwill be out in early October.
Why Did XDefiant Fail to Pass Its Certification?
In a surprisingly honest Ubisoftblog postfrom Executive Producer Mark Rubin to the community he shared more details as to the submission process ofXDefiant.The blog details how the submission process for PlayStation and Xbox is not based on the game’s quality; rather, it’s about looking for “compliance bugs”.
Rubin gave more details concerning what exactly “compliance bugs” are stating that they:
“Relate to the systems and overall experience that the first parties expect from games on their platform. (e.g., Are trophies being properly tracked, is my friend’s list being properly updated with game status, etc.)”
Although they failed in this aspect, compliance issues are entirely different from usual day-one bugs such as glitches or a bad frame rate.
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While failing a certification may seem like a death sentence, it is surprisingly common in today’s gaming landscape. While not being able to disclose too much information due to NDA’s some game developers have revealed on the forum websiteResetErathe extremely specific certification requirements that could stop a game from launching. According to those in the forms,XDefiant’sissues could be as simple as a game missing a warning screen before it boots up to the main menu, or lacking an alert when a save is happening.
In terms of when we will be able to actually playXDefiant, Rubin gave an update on the release window at the end of the blog post.
“So, when it comes to when we will release, the real answer is ‘as soon as we can.’ And we will continue to update you with more info when we have it.”
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Rubin later clarified on Twitter in response to IGN’s article about the blog post that, the team did not expectXDefiantto pass on the first submission and the release window has not been moved due to this. Instead according to Rubin, the window was based on having to go through a second submission.
This is very misleading as failing the first sub is normal and pretty much expected by any game. So our “later this summer” window hasn’t moved based on not passing the first sub. That window was based on having to go through a second sub. Just trying to be as honest as I can.
— Mark Rubin (@PixelsofMark)June 03, 2025
What do you think ofXDefiantfailing its certification? Will you be playing it when it launches later this year? Let us know in the comments and follow @FandomWire for all the latest gaming and entertainment news.
Source:Ubisoft Blog Post
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Massimo Castelli
Gaming Writer
Articles Published :67
Massimo Castelli is a part of FandomWire’s Video Game Reviewers and News Writers team. With a degree in Journalism and English from the University of Strathclyde and a passion for all things gaming and comic book-related, there is no one more qualified to ramble about video game lore and comic-book trivia than him.
