What is XDefiant? No, really. When you stop for a second and really think about it – what does the term even mean? If you go by that worldwide reveal trailer from 2021, the concept involves “fast-paced firefights” meets “punk-craft mosh pit.”

The marketing was over-the-top and colorful; the factions were questionably known as Defiants and touted as “mavericks”, despite consisting of murderers and pyromaniacs. It’s clear that things have changed over time – the Outcasts and Wolves are gone, replaced by the Libertad from Far Cry 6 and Phantoms from Ghost Recon. The pyromaniacs i.e. the Cleaners, remain, because a flamethrower unit was probably required.

Why is XDefiant? Why are these fact…