The online third-person shooter Defiance is being revived after its shutdown in 2021. Originally released in 2013 as a tie-in to the Syfy television series of the same name, the game was developed by Trion Worlds and later transitioned to a free-to-play model. In 2018, Defiance 2050, a reworked version, was launched but was also discontinued alongside the original game. The rights to Defiance were later acquired by Gamigo, and now Fawkes, a company focused on reviving older online games, has announced plans to bring it back.
Fawkes has secured the worldwide development and publishing rights for both Defiance and Defiance 2050 across all platforms. The company plans to relaunch the original Defiance on PC in April 2025, with an emphasis on maintaining elements that were well-received while making adjustments based on community feedback. The game will initially return with a streamlined version, allowing players to revisit familiar mechanics and features before any significant updates are introduced. Fawkes has also stated that if the PC relaunch is successful, they will consider bringing the game back to consoles.
The announcement aligns with Fawkes’ broader efforts to restore older online games, as seen with its work on Shaiya and Last Chaos. The company has invited former and new players to join its official Discord channel for updates and discussions about the relaunch. While no additional details have been provided regarding long-term content plans, Fawkes has expressed interest in shaping future updates based on player feedback.
