Adobe XD To Collect Dust After Figma Acquisition That Fell Apart

Photo 213444856 © Monticelllo | Dreamstime.com

Adobe XD is being left to its own devices as the creative technology giant has confirmed it will discontinue development for the web and mobile app design and prototyping tool. This surprising turn comes after the company’s bid to buy out its rival Figma—another key player in the design productivity space known for its cloud-based collaborative features—didn’t pan out due to regulatory snags.

The software will be placed in a “maintenance mode,” meaning there will be no new features and that the company will only keep things status quo for existing customers, Bloomberg first reports. Adobe XD will also no longer be sold as an individual product to new users.

This decision follows the fallout from Adobe’s US$20 billion acquisition of Figma, which hit a regulatory wall, with authorities concerned that an impending monopoly would create unfair competition and dissolve the rest of the digital design sector.

The company has reassured users that it will keep supporting those who depend on XD for their design projects. The only thing is it won’t pour additional resources or roll out any major updates.

A spokesperson for XD reiterated that the company has “no plans to further invest” in the app, per the report.

As Adobe turns its attention away from XD, it’s emphasizing its commitment to other creative domains, including imaging, photography, design, web, animation, and 3D, along with its newer offerings, like the AI-powered Express and Firefly. It also asserts its openness to exploring future partnerships in the product design field, though it’s clear to say that rolling out a new competitor to Figma is off the table for now.

[via TechRadar and Bloomberg, cover photo 213444856 © Monticelllo | Dreamstime.com]