Redfall Release Date: Platforms, Gameplay, And Everything We Know So Far
Redfall is the upcoming title from immersive sim veterans Arkane, a developer known for its Dishonored series and the Prey reboot, but they seem to be taking a different route with their upcoming game, as it's more similar to a vampire-filled Left 4 Dead.
Redfall was initially revealed during E3 2021 with a cinematic trailer that displayed the game's overall concept, while highlighting the cooperative elements style. There's still a lot of mystery surrounding it, though the game's website does offer some key information. However, if you need a full breakdown of everything you should know about Redfall, read on.
Is There A Redfall Release Date?
During the Xbox Developer Direct on January 25, Arkane revealed that Redfall will release on May 2nd 2023.
Redfall Trailers
The first Redfall trailer debuted at the Xbox conference during E3 2021, and was a cinematic trailer that highlighted the general premise of the game and the playable characters. In it, we see the four characters investigating some cult activity in the town, before being caught and forced into a fight with vampires and their seemingly human soldiers.
There’s a comedic tone that brings some levity to the seriousness and horror of the vampires that is shown through the characters' banter, reminiscent of Left 4 Dead and the more recent Back 4 Blood. This was emphasised in some of the more recent trailers, like the official gameplay reveal from the 20222 Xbox and Bethesda Games showcase.
We also see some of the unique abilities the characters possess, such as Layla who uses telekinesis to aid her allies' mobility, and Remi who has a little robot that can incapacitate enemies.
The aforementioned gameplay reveal trailer showed off the first-person combat against the vampires and humans, highlighting the use of guns in both close-quarters and long-range combat. The vampires seemed quite tanky, and many needed to be finished off with a well-placed headshot, or a stake to the heart. There was also a flare gun that made short work of them.
This trailer also showed off some of the stealth gameplay, and the different types of vampires you'll encounter, which is where some of the Left 4 Dead inspiration shines through. Another trailer gave a much deeper dive into these vampire types where we learnt some of their names, like the Watchers, who spy from high vantage points and act as alarms for other vampires.
Redfall Gameplay and Story
Redfall takes place in a small town in the state of Massachusetts that has been shut off from the world and drowned in endless darkness, after a failed experiment caused a legion of bioengineered vampires to invade.
The player will choose from four playable characters all with unique abilities: cryptozoologist Devinder Crousley, telekinetic student Layla Ellison, combat engineer Remi de la Rosa, and supernatural sharpshooter Jacob Boyer. The game can be played fully in single-player or in co-operative modes with up to three friends.
Click to enlargeOur first gameplay look came via Imgur (though now deleted) that showed some playtest pictures, and while it looks a little rough around the edges, it does show that Redfall development appears to be coming along nicely. There's no telling how old the screenshots in question are though, one of which you can see above, showcasing a beach with a lighthouse and a glimpse of the UI.
The leaks also showed us some new aspects like the coloured loot in the inventory screen and levels, suggesting the game will have some RPG elements. We also know the game will be open world - to what degree is still unknown - so it could be similar to Deathloop and Dishonored with different areas or one big seamless world.
Redfall co-director, Ricardo Bare, also stated that the title will “still focus on deep worldbuilding and inventive game mechanics,” meaning it should continue Arkane’s tradition of innovative design in the AAA space.
The game will have a main story campaign which can be played in single-player, or cooperative multiplayer, along with side missions, called encounters. These are optional and can be found across the map of Redfall, with an example of a brewery which was taken under control by cultists.
A big feature that was mentioned in the Xbox Developer Direct, was a massive enemy that the vampire gods can summon on a whim if you kill too many of the undead. This giant beast is incredibly hard to take down, and is another encounter that players can choose their own solution for.
There are randomised dungeons called nests which change every time you visit them, giving you top-tier loot and other rewards for a successful deployment.
Redfall Platforms
As Arkane is now a part of the Xbox family due to the Bethesda buyout, the title will be an Xbox Series X|S console exclusive. With that said, it will be released on PC at the same time as part of Xbox’s continued support of the platform, and it will also be a day-one title on Xbox Game Pass.
The game is expected to be a little more expensive than recent AAA Xbox first-party titles, as Microsoft recently confirmed it will be raising the prices of future releases.
