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Arkane Studios’ latest game Redfall has been met with disappointing reviews, but was Gamepass a facet of its failure? While many were excited about the new project, a myriad of problems plaguing the game have led to low scores from critics and fans. Many cite that the new Bethesda-published game doesn’t live up to the expectations set by Arkane’s past portfolio. The studio was renowned for high-quality games like Dishonored, Deathloop, and Prey. It is difficult to tell where things went wrong with Redfall. However, the evident push for it to appear on Gamepass may have set it in the wrong direction. Although this on its own won’t ruin a project, it can exacerbate preexisting issues in a Redfall’s development.
Redfall is a first-person, open-world, looter-shooter recently released on Xbox Gamepass. In the game, players must take control of one of four heroes and fight through vampires in the fictional town of Redfall. The game features single-player and cooperative modes, where up to four players can team up and form a squad. Each playable character has unique roles and abilities that set them apart from others. For example, Layla can use her telekinetic powers to get an advantage. In contrast, Jacob can use stealth and long-range sniper shots to take down foes from afar. Though the concept sounds intriguing, fans have cited that the game feels unfinished and rushed.
Reviews Say Redfall Is Uninspired and Dull
One of the major problems with Redfall has been its overall lack of inspired and unique gameplay to complement its interesting concept. Many players have felt that the game’s missions and combat are repetitive and boring. Kinda Funny interviewed Microsoft’s Phil Spencer, during which he stated the problem for the game arose from a lack of “creative direction.”
This statement evidently put the blame on Arkane Studios. Due to this, Spencer stated that the game would not be fixed by delaying and working on the project. It needed to make Redfall’s initial Gamepass release deadline. However, whether or not this was helpful for the game overall is unknown.
Redfall’s Push To The Gamepass May Have Added Deadline Pressure
The pressure caused by the need for Redfall to release on Gamepass may have contributed to the game’s lack of creative direction overall. Keeping to a promised specific release date for players is crucial, especially when promised to the large audience of the Gamepass. However, this can put a lot of pressure on not only the developers and publishers but also the distributors of the game.
Paired with a high level of hype for another new IP from Arkane, this all contributed to a rushed development and release. Arkane Studios specifically wanted the world of Redfall to be unique and different from the worlds of their previous IPs. However, many of Redfall’s reviews state that the world feels stale and uninspired, not living up to the precedent set by other Arkane games.
The Game’s Massive Cost Makes Gamepass The Only Option
Another reason Gamepass may have pushed Redfall in the wrong direction with consumers is its massive price when purchasing it outside of Gamepass. Bethesda’s new game, on its own, costs $69.99 to buy with a $99.99 deluxe edition. Although games are slowly shifting to this new norm of pricing, this is still a large amount of money.
While not entirely the only option, many players felt the need to either play Redfall with Gamepass or not at all due to this high cost. Pushing Redfall on the Gamepass made many players who had never owned the pass before feel like it was the only way to play. Many players who don’t own Gamepass and prefer not to spend $70 are currently waiting for the game to go on sale in the future
Exclusivity To Microsoft May Have Shrunk The Audience
After Microsoft acquired Bethesda, plans for Redfall to be released on PlayStation 5 were canceled. This created another element that contributed to the game’s push in the wrong direction. Suppose Redfall was doomed to fail from the beginning. Still, its exclusivity to Microsoft and a push to be a Gamepass highlight limited the game’s reach to its audience. Gamepass appeals to a wide audience of gamers.
However, players who use only PlayStation consoles and their services will now be unable to try out Arkane’s new IP. This isn’t a bad thing for Microsoft and Arkane. Conversely, audiences tend to suffer from exclusive deals that try to appeal to a more niche audience rather than giving players more options.
Gamepass Gives Some A Chance To Try Redfall Before They Buy It
Although Redfall on Gamepass may have sent the game in the wrong direction, its appearance on the subscription service might have been a saving grace. The many players that played the new release on Gamepass, and didn’t enjoy it, had no need to purchase Redfall and saved money in the long run. Xbox Gamepass, in this scenario, worked as a perfect test drive for Redfall.
Players who didn’t enjoy the game could move on without refunding the game or spending money. On the other hand, players who did enjoy it could continue playing as long as they were subscribed to the Gamepass. At this point, Bethesda’s new game probably won’t bring many new gamers to Microsoft’s subscription service. Still, it may be worth trying out for anyone who already owns it.
While pushing Redfall onto the Gamepass may have been a wise business decision, it is definitely the wrong direction for Arkane’s new IP overall. Redfall was not nearly as well received as fans expected, with many mixed and negative reviews coming to the game. Not focusing on the push to the Gamepass wouldn’t have saved the game.
Nevertheless, it may have slowed the development process and put less pressure on Arkane to release a product. Additionally, the game would have been released on PlayStation 5. Hopefully, in the future, both Microsoft and Arkane will learn from Redfall’s mistakes.