The Defiant Encyclopedia
A single page that ties campaign, guns, platforms, and news together.
The Defiant (Chinese title 抵抗者) is an upcoming story-driven first-person shooter set during China’s War of Resistance against Japan. Hangzhou Hoothanes Entertainment is developing it in Unreal Engine 5. 4Divinity, a publishing label of GCL Global Holdings, is bringing it to Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. There is no public release date.
This encyclopedia page is the wide-angle view. Deep dives live in the guides hub, weapons hub, updates, and tools. Official URLs are on links.
Premise
World War II games have retold Normandy and Stalingrad for decades. The Defiant points at a theatre those series almost never visit: the Second Sino-Japanese War, remembered in China as the War of Resistance. Players take the roles of multiple Chinese soldiers and resistance fighters. Characters are fictional; battles and maps are researched from real geographies — snowy northeast forests, occupied villages, supply corridors, neon Shanghai, and later 1942 fighting near the Futuya Great Wall according to studio trailers.
4Divinity describes a loyal companion travelling with you. Steam’s poetic blurb puts you in the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army moving through snow. The gamescom trailer also names the Canal Detachment. Tone is grim: IGN’s hands-on ended with captured comrades executed in front of the player.
Campaign and modes
The main mode is a single-player campaign targeting about fifteen hours across four chapters. Each chapter changes protagonist, region, and verbs: guerrilla combat, rail sabotage with explosives, urban spy work, mixed assaults. Publisher materials also mention sniping, code-breaking, and vehicular combat. Read the campaign overview and the Shanghai stealth chapter page.
PvE co-op is a separate launch-day playlist, not drop-in story. Player count is estimated at four to eight. Steam lists online co-op and LAN co-op. No competitive PvP has been announced. Details: PvE co-op.
Gameplay snapshot
From the July 2026 IGN preview: two firearms plus grenades; hitscan-feeling bolt-actions; health shown as a blood vignette without medkits; run and slide to cover; crouch; no jump, vault, or prone in that build; QTE melee; full controller support on the store. Hoothanes said mobility, HUD, and AI are still being revised. The playbook is on How to Play.
Arsenal
Named guns include the Hanyang Type 88, Liao Type 13, Mauser C96, and Bergmann MP18 / SIG Bergmann Model 1920, plus sniper rifles, mounted machine guns, stick grenades, and a broadsword in the range. Index: weapons, rifles, sidearms.
Platforms, languages, specs
Steam, PS5, Xbox Series. Fourteen Steam interface languages; English and both written Chinese variants currently have full audio plus subs. English dub planned. RAM 8 GB min / 16 GB rec, 100 GB install, everything else TBD. See platforms and system requirements.
Development and press
Work started in 2023. Steam app first seen August 2024. 4Divinity publishing arrangement reported around 2025–2026. Public demos: ChinaJoy 2026 (Shanghai) and gamescom 2026 (Cologne, Hall 7 B021). Opening Night Live trailer in August 2026. Timeline: updates hub, gamescom recap, trailers.
How to use this wiki
Start at Getting Started if you just watched a trailer. Use the homepage chips for guides, weapons, updates, and tools. This site is unofficial. When Steam and the wiki disagree, Steam wins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
What is The Defiant?
An upcoming story-driven WWII FPS about China's War of Resistance, from Hoothanes and 4Divinity.
Is The Defiant a Roblox game?
No. It is a Unreal Engine 5 console and PC shooter. Do not confuse it with unrelated Roblox titles that use similar names.
Where should I start on this wiki?
The getting started guide, then campaign and weapons.
Is there a release date?
Not publicly. Follow updates and the Steam wishlist page linked from official links.