Ubisoft launched its new free-to-play competitive shooter, XDefiant, but it’s facing some matchmaking issues. Players have reported sitting in empty lobbies for minutes before being told that the playlist doesn’t exist. The developers have acknowledged the problem and are working on fixing it. The game runs smoothly on slightly aged hardware, which is great for a competitive FPS. Despite the initial matchmaking issues, when players can get into matches, they’re enjoying the experience. XDefiant’s casual playlists don’t use skill-based matchmaking, which has been a point of contention in the gaming community. Some players argue that skill-based matchmaking ensures fair competition, while others believe it homogenizes the experience and leads to longer queue times. It’s too early to tell if omitting skill-based matchmaking has affected matchmaking speed in XDefiant. The game features factions that grant players special abilities, similar to utility items or killstreak rewards in other shooters. Some players find these abilities gratuitous in a game that aims to streamline the competitive shooting experience, but opinions may change over time. At launch, XDefiant offers several casual playlists and a preview of the ranked mode that will be available in season one. There’s also a premium battle pass with cosmetic items and XP boosters. However, the game must be acquired from the Ubisoft Store on PC, which may be inconvenient for some players. In summary, XDefiant’s launch has been marred by matchmaking issues, but the gameplay experience is enjoyable once players are able to get into matches. The absence of skill-based matchmaking is a point of debate, and the game’s faction abilities may not appeal to everyone initially. Despite these issues, the game shows promise and may evolve as the player base grows and the developers address feedback.