The MMO Defiance, which was shut down in 2021, is coming back to life. For anyone unaware, Defiance was a third-person shooter MMO from Trion Worlds that was developed as a tie-in for the Syfy show of the same name, with events and storylines running across the game and the TV show. It launched in 2013 as a paid game for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, before adopting a free-to-play model and continued to receive updates even after the TV show was canceled in 2015. A new version of the game, Defiance 2050, came out in 2018–but both games shut down servers in 2021. Now, Defiance is attempting a comeback.
Fawkes, a game company whose mission is “breathing life to old worlds and preserving their legacy,” has announced plans to bring Defiance back following a deal with previous rights-owner Gamigo.
“Even though the TV series was discontinued in 2015 and Gamigo eventually closed the game in 2021, the memories of epic Arkfalls and immersive, post‑apocalyptic battles live on in your hearts,” Fawkes said.
Fawkes said it has acquired the license to the “worldwide development and publishing rights” for Defiance and Defiance 2050 on all platforms. The first step in the comeback is relaunching the original game on PC in April 2025.
“Our relaunch is designed to be a homecoming for those who once fought side by side during legendary Arkfalls. We want you to return to a familiar world that still holds countless memories, and to create new ones with friends both old and new,” Fawkes said.
Should the re-launch go well in April 2025 on PC, Fawkes said it will “explore the possibility” of bringing Defiance back to consoles.
“We will start small, with a very clean state of the game, with the design and drop we understood you like, and grow from there together with you, bringing the changes that had an impact and leaving behind the ones that didn’t. We are ready to re-build Defiance together with you, Arkhunters,” Fawkes said.
Fans can join the official Fawkes Discord channel to stay up to date on the newest developments.
“Thank you for keeping the flame of Defiance alive all these years. We can’t wait to welcome you back into the world of epic battles and unforgettable moments. Get ready to Defy the odds once again!” Fawkes said.
Fawkes also helped revive the games Shaiya and Last Chaos, and also has the rights to Desert Operations and Wargame 1942.