Ubisoft's Tom Clancy's XDefiant is a free-to-play multiplayer shooter that incorporates elements from various franchises in Clancy's universe. The released trailer showcased some of the expected gameplay elements, including fast-paced combat, customizable loadouts, and a mix of traditional weapons and character-based abilities. At first glance, XDefiant looks like other first-person shooters released in recent years.

Of course, this is not to say that the game is not worth checking out; Tom Clancy's XDefiant, developed by Ubisoft San Francisco, has some interesting elements. One is that it is a crossover game that blends Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, Splinter Cell, and The Division franchises. Players will be able to fight characters representing known factions in iconic locations derived from these games. Ubisoft has also added realistic gunplay, making XDefiant more like Valorant than Apex Legends. You don't need a lot of lead to get a kill, just a solid headshot or a few bullets to the torso. In other words, players need to be strategic, adding a new layer to the running and gunning.

As of this writing, Ubisoft has not revealed a release date for XDefiant, but did mention a closed test that will begin on August 5. PC players in the U.S. and Canada who are eager to play can sign up now at the XDefiant website. Other regions will be given the opportunity to play XDefiant at a later date. Ubisoft plans to gradually increase the number of players over a period of time.

If you are unable to participate in the initial testing of XDefiant, don't worry. The idea is to get player feedback in hopes of addressing bugs, balance issues, and other potential problems that could prevent a solid launch. Also, given that Ubisoft has not stated whether this is an "alpha" or "beta" test, it is possible that the full game will be released earlier than expected.

Tom Clancy's XDefiant is a free-to-play first-person shooter that pits two teams of six players against each other. Each team consists of characters called Defiant, who have unique attributes based on the faction (or class) they belong to.

For example, Wolf, a faction derived from Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, is an XDefiant tank. It can be thought of as having some sort of shield or armor to assist teammates when under fire.

Current factions of XDefiant:

Players can change their loadout by swapping weapons, adding or removing attachments, or equipping special devices. However, it is the faction that determines what game-changing skills and ultra-abilities can be utilized in a particular match. Ideally, players will want to ensure that their team is factionally balanced.

Ubisoft has promised to add more Defiant characters as XDefiant evolves. It is unclear if these characters will be offered for free at launch. However, given the nature of similar free-to-play games like Valorant and Rogue Company, new Defiant will probably have to be purchased using some kind of in-game currency or real money. Aside from cosmetics (sold separately or via the inevitable Battle Pass), new characters could be a way for Ubisoft to make a profit.

XDefiant will feature arena and object-based battle modes. Which mode is chosen will depend on the type of map being played. Modes such as Domination and Team Deathmatch will be played on arena-based maps. On the other hand, modes like Escort and Zone Control are played on linear maps like Overwatch.

XDefient arena-based game modes:

XDefient linear-based game modes:

No matter which mode/map is chosen, players must work together to defeat rival teams. Thanks to the killing power of gunplay, faction-based abilities, etc., can only go so far. Winning at XDefiant depends on strategic planning. At the very least, it requires a little teamwork amidst the chaos.

XDefiant is a departure from the usual Tom Clancy experience, even more so than Rainbow Six Siege or the open-world Ghost Recon. And because it follows the same tried-and-true path as other F2P shooters, there is nothing notably new about it. Nevertheless, XDefiant looks interesting.

While I will miss Sam Fisher, the ability to customize your Echelon agent is a boon. Ubisoft emphasizes that XDefiant is shooter-first, prioritizing realistic firefights over flashy abilities. It will be interesting to see how different strategies play out in both arena and linear-based modes. The Clancy worldview is also shared, and Ubisoft will continue to draw interesting content from these franchises.

Ultimately, you won't know if XDefiant is good or bad until you try it yourself. All I can say, however, is that it wouldn't hurt to join the fray once the playtest begins. After all, it's free play.