In an announcement posted on the official XDefiant website, Executive Game Director Mark Rubin confirmed that the release of Ubisoft’s upcoming first-person shooter, XDefiant, is experiencing a delay. The setback stems from the game not receiving a passing grade during the certification submission process, a crucial step in the game’s journey to release.
This unexpected development occurred despite the certification process commencing at the end of July, with the “Not Pass” verdict arriving in mid-August. According to Rubin, most of the issues identified were related to compliance matters.
“We are currently in the CM prep part of that process and will hopefully be submitting to 1st parties in a little less than 2 weeks,” Rubin explained in the post. “If that Passes cleanly, then we could be looking at a mid-to-end of September release.
There is, however, a likely scenario where we get a conditional Pass, meaning we have to do a Day 1 patch with some final fixes to ensure compliance. If we do need to do a Day 1 patch, then that pushes our date out to early/mid-October.”
Certification compliance issues primarily involve issues related to first-party platforms, such as trophies failing to unlock properly on PS5 or friends lists not updating correctly. While these are essential matters to address, they generally do not pose the same level of concern as game-breaking bugs or crashes.
Although release delays are always disappointing for eager players, addressing compliance issues is crucial to ensure a smoother and more enjoyable gaming experience. Despite the delay, fans can take solace in knowing that Ubisoft is committed to delivering a polished product.
Rubin concluded the post by acknowledging that XDefiant’s development has been far from conventional, promising that the game will be released “as soon as we can.” XDefiant is set to launch on various platforms, including PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. While the delay may be disheartening, it signifies Ubisoft’s dedication to delivering a top-notch gaming experience, free from disruptive technical issues.
