Player counts can easily make or break a game’s success. High player counts often reflect anticipation and positive reception, while low numbers can spell doom for a new release. Ubisoft’s XDefiant had a bumpy road to launch, leaving many to wonder if the game would be able to attract a large user base.

With multiple delays dampening the excitement, XDefiant fought an uphill battle. Despite these setbacks, the game managed to attract a substantial audience, defying expectations and giving Ubisoft good reasons to be very optimistic.

XDefiant has already managed to “acquire an impressive 11 million players in a short time since launch,” Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said in recent conversations with the company.

While 11 million players is a strong start, the real test for XDefiant now will be to maintain and grow this solid player base. Guillemot hinted at plans to now look at expanding the game's audience, noting that "that number will increase with all the work the team has done to make sure that Season One adds so much more to the experience."