XDefiant is the newest kid on the block where competitive, multiplayer-based shooters are concerned. This fresh title from Ubisoft has been in development for several years and was released in May 2024 to a relatively positive reception. For many, it’s seen as a direct competitor to Call of Duty, and there’s the potential for an esports scene to blossom within the game’s ecosystem. With that in mind, we’re looking at the prospect of betting on XDefiant esports, breaking down how it could work.
Esportsbooks Expected to Offer XDefiant Markets
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The XDefiant Esports Opportunity
Ubisoft will inevitably host some top-tier XDefiant tournaments. The company has supported Rainbow Six Siege esports for several years, and that’s considered one of the most electrifying esports titles in the world. Will that success pass over to XDefiant in some way? In case it does, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about how to bet on XDefiant.
Before you start dabbling in a little XDefiant betting, it’s important to understand why this game could be a huge contender in the esports space.
It was built from the ground up to foster a competitive scene, and the sheer nature of the game’s base mechanics lend themselves perfectly to an esports environment. There are ranked and unranked multiplayer modes, skill-based settings, various builds and mechanics, and inherently competitive game modes.
It has been touted as a Call of Duty killer – but that’s not a title that Ubisoft has ever wanted to adopt. It sees XDefiant as being a unique product that should operate in a separate world away from COD – and to us that means that it’ll feature slightly different mechanics to Call of Duty betting.
- Firstly, XDefiant has a unique faction-based system that sees players assume control of iconic ‘units’ from Ubisoft’s games.
- That means that Assassin’s Creed, Rainbow Six, Splinter Cell, Far Cry, and The Division will (or have) surface in XDefiant.
- Each faction and character type has unique abilities, power-ups, and weapons, and movement is key – all attributes of a solid esports game.
- And as we know, where there’s a competitive game, esports betting is sure to follow.
How Does XDefiant Betting Work?
If you try to scout out XDefiant odds, you’ll likely find nothing for a good while. Ubisoft will inevitably want to ‘bed in’ XDefiant before promoting an esports ecosystem for the game. So, it could be a good year or more post-launch before XDefiant betting becomes a thing. That being said, when it does surface, the best esports betting sites out there will be ready and willing to offer markets for the game, being as exciting and popular as it is.
Within a week of launch, the game hit more than eight million players!
There are six core modes in XDefiant:
- Escort
- Zone Control
- Domination
- Occupy
- Hot Shot
- Ranked
We could see Escort, Zone Control, and perhaps Domination emerging as solid esports-focused modes. However, they’re dramatically similar to Call of Duty modes, so Ubisoft will need to be careful to avoid duplication. Early on, it’s likely the XDefiant betting options will be restricted to win-lose markets and outright, but down the line, more specialised and exotic betting markets could appear. For instance, first blood, handicaps, over-under, and other markets specific to XDefiant’s core mechanics.
Fortunately, esports odds work in the same way as traditional sports betting odds. If you’re familiar with those, you’ll find it easy to bet on XDefiant – when the markets do eventually surface, of course.
The Future of XDefiant
XDefiant is a fast-paced, high-octane shooter that never slows down. That means it’s energetic and pretty hectic, and there are no ‘intense’ modes like Search and Destroy. Every mode is designed to accommodate run-and-gun gameplay, with players leaning on various gadgets and abilities to turn the tide of battle in a moment. That goes against the traditional esports model, as almost every one of the top-tier esports games boasts some ‘slower’ mechanics and modes.
Ubisoft has already introduced a solid ‘ranked’ platform to XDefiant. This is where budding competitors can strut their stuff against more challenging players – and it has been a success with fans. In this mode, there are skill-based matchmaking mechanics at play, which makes things a little tougher in general. For now, players – even the most talented in the world – are learning intricately how XDefiant works before the esports ecosystem for the game is deployed.
So, What’s Next?
What’s next is to grind the game and sit back, waiting patiently for XDefiant betting markets to surface. Ubisoft is keen on shaping this game around an esports centre – that’s why it was built, after all. It’s not going to rival Rainbow Six Siege as an esports game, but it should do fairly well in its own respect. Remember that when these markets do appear to bet responsibly and make sure you identify the best betting site for your buck before investing in a platform.
