Ubisoft’s first-person shooter XDefiant launches on May 21

Tom Clancy XDefiant is almost upon us. It’s Ubisoft exemption the free-to-play first-person shooter on May 21 for Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PC via Ubisoft Connect. The developer is kicking things off with the pre-season version of the game, which is scheduled to run six weeks before on XDefiant season one has officially started. Ubisoft announced the game back in 2021, promising team-based matches with a focus on shooting that will incorporate elements from other games in the Tom Clancy universe.

The pre-season will offer five different game modes with 14 maps, 24 weapons and five game factions inspired by other Ubisoft franchises. Players will have to choose their faction before the match starts and before they respawn. They also get to choose their primary and secondary weapons – their options include assault rifles, submachine guns, shotguns and sniper rifles – and a grenade. To customize a weapon, they can add barrel and muzzle attachments such as sights and grips.

Each faction will give players access to two active abilities, one passive buff and another ultra ability that they must charge as the match goes on. Libertad, one of the factions available, puts the focus on healing, while members of the Cleaners faction can use fire to burn their opponents. Echelon players can reveal enemy locations with their stealth technology, while Phantoms’ abilities can block damage. The last faction available, DedSec, is for those who want to play as hackers.

When the first season launched, Ubisoft added four new factions, 12 new weapons, and 12 new maps to the game. According to Year 1 Roadmap the developer shared last year it expects to release four seasons with the game’s first year, each adding more new content designed to keep players engaged, invested, and more likely to come back and keep playing.