Mark Rubin departs from Ubisoft as XDefiant is officially discontinued

Mark Rubin, who served as executive producer for Ubisoft's XDefiant, has officially announced his exit from the company. This decision coincides with Ubisoft's termination of the live service shooter.

Rubin revealed this news through a social media platform, expressing his intent to retire from the gaming industry to dedicate more time to his family. He stated his passion for shooter games and expressed hope that someone else would advance the work he began, focusing on player engagement, respect, and feedback appreciation.

Ubisoft had previously shared its decision last December to cease operations of XDefiant, resulting in two studio closures and nearly 300 job losses.

Marie-Sophie de Waubert, Ubisoft's chief studios and portfolio officer, attributed the game's closure to its failure to meet the financial benchmarks necessary for further investment.

In October 2024, Rubin had denied rumors of the game's impending shutdown, claiming discussions were underway about potential developments for XDefiant's second season, with a focus on enhancements and new content.

Nevertheless, in a recent statement, Rubin pinpointed several developmental challenges, such as significant technical limitations due to the inappropriate engine choice and insufficient engineering support to rectify these issues.

He further noted that a lack of resources for content development also hindered the project. Despite these setbacks, Rubin commended the development team for their dedication and effort, acknowledging their achievement in delivering an engaging game under difficult circumstances.

Rubin's reflections included acknowledgment of XDefiant’s influence on the gaming sphere, evidenced by responses from other games. However, he expressed regret over the inability to sustain and expand the game over a longer period.