Mark Rubin, the executive producer of XDefiant, has openly criticized Activision for its profit-centric focus in title management, particularly concerning Call of Duty. Addressing fans on Twitter, he stated that Activision prioritizes extracting maximum profit from players rather than enhancing their gaming experience.

After a decade with Infinity Ward, where he contributed to landmark titles like Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Modern Warfare 2, Rubin joined Ubisoft in 2019. He has since led the development of XDefiant, launched in May 2024. Though it initially attracted significant player numbers, the game is set to shut down in June 2025, thirteen months post-launch. Rubin emphasizes that game success should hinge on quality, not just marketing expenditure.

He concludes by urging industry peers to emulate Larian Studios, known for their commitment to craftsmanship in gaming, as exemplified by their successful title, Baldur’s Gate 3.

Additionally, the producer encourages players to engage with XDefiant while they can, as the game approaches its closure date.