In XDefiant, players must choose their faction and loadout, both before the match begins and at any time they wish upon respawning, allowing them to adapt to the evolving fight. Factions offer a choice of two active abilities, as well as one passive buff, and an ultra ability that must be charged up during the match. Libertad excels at healing support thanks to their BioVida medication; the Cleaners use fire to burn away their enemies; Echelon (Splinter Cell) uses stealth technology to reveal enemy locations and render themselves invisible on enemy maps; the Phantoms use their advanced training and technology to block damage; and DedSec uses their technological expertise to hack enemy gadgets and sic spiderbots on unsuspecting opponents. At launch, DedSec will be locked, as will two of the other faction's playable characters, but all can be earned by completing in-game missions.

Loadouts in XDefiant consist of a primary and secondary weapon, as well as a grenade. Assault rifles, submachine guns, shotguns, marksman rifles, and sniper rifles all offer different strengths in combat, and players can customize their weapons with a wide range of attachments to fine tune each weapon's performance, including sights, grips, stocks, magazines, and barrel and muzzle attachments. Using a weapon will earn weapon XP progress towards unlocking new customization options.

Game modes in XDefiant fall into one of two categories: Arena and Linear. Arena-style matches include Domination, where teams fight to control three fixed zones; Occupy, where teams fight to control one zone that periodically moves around the map; and HotShot, where players fight to get the most KOs. However, in HotShot, points are only granted (or denied) when players collect tags from fallen foes (or allies); furthermore, the player currently holding the most tags becomes the HotShot and is granted a host of speed buffs, but is marked on the map for all to see.

Linear matches, on the other hand, cast players in attacking or defending roles. In Zone Control, the attacking team works to secure five zones in a progression across the map, and the defenders fight to stop them. In Escort, the attacking team must bring a package to its final destination across the map, while the defenders attempt to stymie their progress, and even push the package back.

XDefiant launches on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Ubisoft Connect on May 21. A free-to-play multiplayer arena shooter, XDefiant lets players battle it out as various factions inspired from Ubisoft games across five different game modes and 14 unique maps. To find out even more about the best way to play XDefiant, be sure to check out our Accessibility Spotlight.

Starting today, players can begin preloading the game from their console or PC. For those jumping into XDefiant on PC, the game supports DX11 and DX12, uncapped frame rate, widescreen support, and NVIDIA Reflex support for low latency gameplay.

To make the most of your specific gaming rig, and to ensure you're squeezing out every possible frame, check out the full list of recommended PC specifications.

PC System Requirements

• Minimum
  • Resolution: 1080p
  • CPU: Intel i3-10105F; AMD Ryzen 3 3100
  • GPU: Intel ARC A380 (6GB); NVIDIA GTX 1050TI (4GB); AMD RX 5500 XT (4GB)
  • RAM: 8 GB Dual Channel
  • OS: Windows 10
  • Storage: 35 GB
• Recommended
  • Resolution: 1080p
  • CPU: Intel i3-10105F; AMD Ryzen 3 3100
  • GPU: Intel ARC A750 (8GB); NVIDIA GTX 1060 (6GB); AMD RX 5500 XT (8GB)
  • RAM: 16 GB Dual Channel
  • OS: Windows 10
  • Storage: 35 GB
• Enthusiast
  • Resolution: 1440p
  • CPU: Intel i5-10400; AMD Ryzen 5 3600
  • GPU: Intel ARC A770 (16GB); NVIDIA RTX 2060 (6GB); AMD RX 5600 XT (6GB) 
  • RAM: 16 GB Dual Channel
  • OS: Windows 10/Windows 11
  • Storage: 35 GB
• Ultra
  • Resolution: 4K
  • CPU: Intel i7-9700K; AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
  • GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3080 (10GB); AMD RX 6800 XT (16GB)
  • RAM: 16 GB Dual Channel
  • OS: Windows 10/Windows 11
  • Storage: 35 GB

Additional features include:

• Personalized Playstyle: Players can personalize their Defiant to match their playstyle. Players can choose a faction with unique traits, abilities and ultra, then select from an arsenal of primary and secondary weapons, attachments, and a device to complete their loadout – and even tweak it on the fly (after respawning) to adapt to an ever-changing battlefield.
• Competitive Clashes: The game offers a variety of competitive 6-v-6 arena and linear game modes, such as Domination and Escort. Combine that with a large pool of uniquely designed maps in rotation and no two matches will feel the same.
• Diverse Factions of Defiants: XDefiant will initially feature factions such as the Wolves (Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon), Echelon (Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell) and the Outcasts and Cleaners (Tom Clancy’s The Division) battling across iconic locations. Additional Defiants will be added as the game evolves, drawing on a range of characters and abilities from the Tom Clancy universe … and beyond.

XDefiant is coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC.