Arkane is one of the developers under Bethesda’s umbrella, acquired by Microsoft during its big purchase, and for many fans, it’s one of the Xbox brand’s secret weapons. Arkane’s last game Deathloop, due to contractual obligations, is a limited-timed PS5 console exclusive, but it seems all, or at least most, future games will be Xbox exclusive. Redfall is one such example.
Many are no doubt waiting for Deathloop to come to Xbox platforms, but thanks to its Bethesda acquisition, Microsoft has tons of games on the horizon. Redfall was delayed alongside Starfield to 2023, but it’s quality that many fans care about, so that’s really a good thing. Redfall will be an Xbox console exclusive, but that’s not the only way it departs from past Arkane games.
During a recent interview with IGN, Arkane Austin’s studio director and co-creative director of Redfall, Harvey Smith, talked about the game’s story. It’s still very much a solo Arkane game experience, but fans are able to go against the vampires with co-op partners. Who plays who doesn’t impact the story, but it will impact the dialogue in the game. Fans should be happy with whoever they choose, though, as they will not be able to swap characters mid-campaign.
Still, outside the dialogue, the story remains unchanged by player choice. There are tons of side quest elements that players can pursue if they so choose, but the story remains stagnant. This is a bit different from a typical Arkane game, and when asked if Redfall features multiple endings, Smith’s response was a simple “no.”
For comparison, Deathloop has three major endings, meaning Arkane breaks from the typical approach in a few ways. That doesn’t make them bad ways though. As long as Redfall’s gameplay is up to par and the story, as promised, offers a traditional Arkane experience, the lack of multiple endings won’t harm the overall title. It’s a good thing for Arkane fans to know though, so they don’t go looking for other endings at launch.
Redfall’s release date is still in question. Starfield and Redfall are both believed to launch in early 2023, but despite both appearing at the recent Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase, neither have confirmed windows. Early could mean any time in the first six months, really, especially considering it’s the same window for two Bethesda games. Either way, fans will be diving into the vampire-hunting adventure at some point next year.
Redfall releases in 2023 for PC and Xbox Series X.